Greg Schiano’s Defensive Coordinator Search: It’s About Fit, Not Just Scheme
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Greg Schiano isn’t looking for a defensive guru with a trendy scheme. He’s looking for someone who fits - someone who sees the game the way he does, who can lead a room, and who knows how to get the most out of a unit that underperformed in 2025.
Rutgers is in the market for a new defensive coordinator after Schiano parted ways with co-defensive coordinators Robb Smith and Zack Sparber following a disappointing 5-7 season. And while fans and analysts may be focused on what kind of scheme the next hire might bring, Schiano made it clear: alignment matters more than X’s and O’s.
"I'm not tied to any scheme," Schiano said Tuesday during a media session in Piscataway. "That's people who say that - that isn't true."
That might raise some eyebrows, considering Schiano’s long-standing reputation as a detail-oriented, defense-first coach. But his point is more nuanced.
While he has strong opinions about certain techniques and fundamentals, he’s not married to a specific playbook. What he is married to is philosophy - a shared vision between head coach and coordinator.
“There are certain things that I am in favor of - certainly are,” Schiano continued. “But that usually gets hammered out in the process.
When you're interviewing people, right? You won't go down the path with someone that is philosophically different.
You shouldn't really even interview them, because you should have known that before you sat down with them."
That’s where Schiano’s coaching tree comes into play. Historically, his coordinator hires have often come from familiar territory - coaches he’s worked with, mentored, or who have worked under his former assistants.
It’s not about comfort, but about shared DNA. And with the defense struggling this past season - one of the worst statistically in the Big Ten - Rutgers can’t afford to get this hire wrong.
The issues weren’t just about scheme or talent. The defense was plagued by breakdowns in technique and execution - the kind of things that point to a lack of cohesion and leadership. That’s why Schiano is emphasizing alignment now more than ever.
"So philosophically, you want someone that you're aligned with," he said. "As far as the details and the X's and O's and the alignments - there are certain techniques that are nonnegotiable that you just believe strongly in as a football coach.
But there’s other things - there’s many ways to skin a cat. If you think it’s better to do this technique than that technique, that’s yours.
I mean, you run the defense."
That last part is telling. Schiano wants a leader - someone who can take ownership of the defense the way Kirk Ciarrocca took ownership of the offense.
Ciarrocca, hired in early 2023 after a prolonged search, helped engineer one of the most dramatic offensive turnarounds in the Big Ten this past season. Rutgers went from being one of the conference’s weakest offensive units to one that could consistently move the ball and put up points.
That’s the blueprint.
"What I have here in coach Ciarrocca is exactly what I'd like to have on defense," Schiano said. "I have a guy who leads the room, calls the plays, and really leads the players. So if we can get that on the other side, that would be perfect."
The takeaway? Rutgers isn’t just looking for a play-caller. They’re looking for a tone-setter - someone who can walk into the room, command respect, teach fundamentals, and bring consistency to a defense that couldn’t find its footing in 2025.
The scheme might change. The alignments might shift. But the core of what Schiano wants remains the same: a trusted voice who sees the game through the same lens, and who can bring stability and identity to a unit that badly needs both.
Who that will be remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear - the next defensive coordinator at Rutgers won’t just be hired for what’s in their playbook. They’ll be hired for how they lead, how they teach, and how well they fit into the culture Schiano is still building in Piscataway.