Rutgers coach Greg Schiano hired by Buccaneers
Rutgers coach Greg Schiano shouts to his players during an NCAA college football game against North Carolina in Piscataway, N.J. (Sept. 11, 2008) Credit: AP
FOXBORO, Mass. -- Greg Schiano just couldn't say no to the NFL. The Rutgers football coach signed a five-year deal Thursday to be the new coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It will be Schiano's first NFL head-coaching job.
Negotiations picked up steam once Tampa Bay's first choice, Oregon coach Chip Kelly, withdrew his name from consideration Monday. The sudden news of Schiano's departure stunned his former players and put Rutgers in a bind less than a week before national signing day.
"Really? Not going to lie I am a little bit shocked right now," former Scarlet Knight Eric LeGrand tweeted.
Schiano, who went 68-67 with six bowl appearances in 11 years at Rutgers, will replace former Hofstra assistant coach and player Raheem Morris, whose Bucs went 4-12, including 10 straight losses to end the season.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick, a close friend of Schiano's, credited the former Rutgers coach with constantly churning out "NFL-ready" athletes.
"He's done a great job at Rutgers,'' said Belichick, whose son, Stephen, plays lacrosse at Rutgers. "Guys that come out of that program . . . have enough talent to really compete in the NFL and most of them end up staying in one way or another."
Schiano, who earned $2.35 million a year at Rutgers, had put together one of the best recruiting classes in school history -- ranked No. 32 by Rivals.com -- for next season.
Schiano, 45, reportedly canceled a trip to attend the public memorial service of his mentor, former Penn State coach Joe Paterno, to complete negotiations on his deal with Tampa Bay.
Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti said in a conference call that he tried to sway Schiano's decision by telling him, "Staying at Rutgers was the best possible move." But the athletic director said he was aware that NFL teams were speaking to Schiano.
Said Pernetti: "I've been in the know since the beginning."
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