Rutgers Football: Greg Schiano Remains Head Coach Despite 2-7 Season
The school kept its winningest coach on, citing long-term plans and a $18.6 million buyout cost that would have been triggered by a dismissal.
By Alina Campbell ·
Rutgers will pay head coach Greg Schiano to return for the 2027 season, the university announced on Tuesday. The decision keeps the program under its most successful coach in history, who now enters his 19th season at the school.
The Scarlet Knights finished the 2026 campaign with a 2-7 record, marking the second consecutive losing year. Despite the results, Athletic Director Keli Zinn stated that keeping Schiano serves the best long-term interests of the program. Zinn noted that the retention is not a sign that current performance levels are acceptable.
Financial details played a role in the decision. Schiano’s contract extends through the 2029 season. If the university had fired him this year, it would have owed him $18.6 million. The total cost to dismiss the entire coaching staff would have been close to $28 million.
Zinn explained that she and Schiano reviewed a plan to strengthen the roster during the offseason. She expressed hope that the team will be more aggressive in the transfer portal to assemble talent capable of competing at a higher level. The school hopes to have a full defensive staff in place early next year, unlike the previous cycle when a defensive coordinator was not hired until February 11.
Schiano holds a 101-115 career record at Rutgers over two stints. His first tenure ran from 2001 to 2011, a period defined by high academic standards and a team GPA of 3.4. The second stint included back-to-back 7-6 seasons in 2023 and 2024 before the team’s performance dipped.
The announcement aims to reassure current recruits and prospective transfer players that the coaching staff remains stable. Rutgers missed a bowl game after its seventh loss over the weekend, shifting attention to rebuilding efforts for the next season.
Zinn praised Schiano’s ability to manage the program’s infrastructure, including nutrition, sports performance, and academics. She said the school has demonstrated the ability to train and develop players to reach the next level, providing the necessary resources for future success.
