A conference title would make Rutgers Greg Schiano the best all-around coach in the Big East

Will not be defensive coordinator in 2009

BY MIKE VORKUNOV

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

RUTGERS PREVIEW: COACH

In college football everything starts and ends with the head coach, from Joe Pa to Pete Carroll. So what better place to begin New Jersey Newsroom's August-long Rutgers football preview then with the man in charge, Greg Schiano.

While he is nowhere near the level of success of the two coaching maestros named above, Schiano has done wonders for Scarlet Knights football. By now his direction of the program from bottom feeder to Big East contender is common knowledge throughout New Jersey.

Schiano has turned Rutgers into a contender thanks to his recruiting acumen and cunning coaching decisions. Unable to recruit the best players to the Banks when he first came to Rutgers he relied on talent heavy Florida to give him the players he needed to compete, familiar with the area thanks to his time as defensive coordinator at Miami. And without superior talent, he mixed and matched players to fit his 4-3 defensive scheme.

As a coach Schiano has made his reputation on taking chances at the right time, like his multiple fourth down stabs in Rutgers upset over No. 2 South Florida in 2007. As a defensive coordinator, he has shown a strong ability to make second-half adjustments, and fill the holes that opposing offenses used to burn his defense. None was more memorable than the Rutgers defense holding No. 3 Louisville scoreless in the second half in their matchup in 2006. For the upcoming season Schiano has given away his defensive coordinator responsibilities. Bob Fraser and Ed Pinkham will be co-defensive coordinators.

THE BIG EAST: Schiano's development as a coach and program leader puts Schiano near the top of the list in the Big East. Pittsburg coach Dave Wannstedt is arguably a better recruiter, regularly pulling higher ranked recruits. Connecticut coach Randy Edsall may be a better coach, showing in 2007 and 2008 the ability to coax better than expected results from mediocre talent. And Jim Leavitt may match Schiano as a program builder, turning South Florida from a FCS team in 2000 to a consistent Big East contender.

Only Cincinnati's Brian Kelly may prevent Schiano from being the best coach in the conference, as Kelly turned a middling Big East team into an Orange Bowl appearance. That Schiano has yet to take RU to a conference title and BCS Bowl appearance is the biggest hole on his resume and perhaps the only argument against him being named the best coach in the eight team Big East.

ALSO PREVIEWED

Running backs

Wide receivers

Defensive backs