Joe Woodley Joins Rutgers Defensive Staff After Championship-Caliber Run in College Football
Rutgers football is adding a proven winner to its coaching ranks. Head coach Greg Schiano has brought Joe Woodley on board as part of the Scarlet Knights’ defensive staff, with his specific role still to be finalized. What isn’t in question, though, is Woodley’s track record - one built on championship pedigree, elite defensive units, and a knack for developing standout talent.
Woodley arrives in Piscataway after a successful one-year stint as head coach at Drake, where he led the Bulldogs to a Pioneer Football League (PFL) title and an FCS Playoff appearance - just the third in program history. Drake went 8-4 overall, 7-1 in conference play, and punched its postseason ticket by playing tough, disciplined football on both sides of the ball. That playoff run included a first-round matchup against South Dakota, led by none other than Travis Johansen - now Rutgers’ defensive coordinator and a familiar face to Woodley from their time coaching together at Grand View.
That connection is no coincidence. Woodley and Johansen were on the same staff at Grand View from 2013 to 2018, helping build the foundation for one of the most dominant NAIA programs in the country. Woodley eventually took over the head coaching job in 2019, succeeding his father, Mike, and never looked back.
Over six seasons at the helm, Woodley turned Grand View into a juggernaut. His teams went a staggering 72-5, never lost a regular-season game, and reached the NAIA quarterfinals or beyond five times.
The pinnacle came in 2024, when the Vikings went 14-0 and captured the national championship. That kind of sustained success - built on strong fundamentals, elite preparation, and player development - earned Woodley national recognition.
In 2024, he was named one of ESPN’s “30 coaches who will define the next decade of college football,” one of just four non-FBS coaches to make the list and the only one from the NAIA.
At Drake, Woodley’s impact was immediate. His defense led the PFL in scoring defense (11.0 points per game) and total defense (287.6 yards per game), ranking among the top units nationally in several key categories - sixth in both scoring defense (17.7) and red zone defense (.714), 14th in total defense (323.3), and top-30 in sacks, passing defense, rushing defense, and first downs allowed. It was a complete, well-coached unit that played smart and fast - trademarks of Woodley’s approach.
That unit also produced individual standouts. Linebacker Sean Allison was named the PFL Defensive Player of the Year and earned Third Team All-America honors.
On the other side of the ball, running back Nick Herman burst onto the scene as the PFL Offensive Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American. In total, 14 Bulldogs earned all-conference recognition under Woodley’s leadership - a testament to his ability to both recruit and develop talent.
Before his head coaching days, Woodley made his mark as both a defensive and offensive coordinator. In 2018, he led an offense that ranked in the top 25 nationally in scoring, rushing, and total yards.
But his roots are on defense. From 2008 to 2017, he coordinated a Grand View defense that ranked in the NAIA’s top 10 nine different times.
His work didn’t go unnoticed - he was named MSFA Midwest Assistant Coach of the Year in 2009 and Football Scoop Coordinator of the Year in 2013.
Woodley’s coaching tree runs deep. Over the years, he’s mentored more than 60 All-Conference players, seven AFCA All-Americans, and multiple conference Players of the Year on both sides of the ball. In 2024, he coached quarterback Jackson Waring to the NAIA Football Player of the Year award - the division’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
His coaching journey began in Iowa, with early stops at St. Ambrose University and Johnston High School, where he coached under his brother.
But even before that, Woodley was a standout himself. A first-team all-state linebacker at Valley High School, he went on to play at Iowa State, where he captained the Cyclones to three bowl appearances between 1999 and 2003.
Now, he brings that wealth of experience - as a player, coordinator, and head coach - to Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights are adding a coach who knows how to build a culture, elevate a defense, and win. And with a familiar face in Johansen already in place, there’s a strong foundation for Woodley to make an immediate impact.
For Rutgers fans, this hire is more than just filling a spot on the coaching staff. It’s about adding a rising name in the coaching world - someone who’s already proven he can win at multiple levels and develop talent that performs on Saturdays. Woodley’s next chapter is in the Big Ten, and if history is any indication, he’s not just here to observe - he’s here to compete.