The nightmare season continues on for Rutgers.
The Scarlet Knights have four games left and at best, there might be one win remaining on the schedule. Rutgers is looking at a 2-3 win season led by Greg Schiano in what is his seventh season back with the program.
In other words, it’s not working. It’s time for a change.
Athletic Director Keli Zinn made a big change when Rutgers let go of Women’s Basketball head coach Coquese Washington. Letting go of the football coach is in an entirely different stratosphere.
The question is — could it happen?
It is important to remember that Schiano’s buyout is around $17 million, which would be a big hit to an athletic department that is already in the red financially.
If Schiano is let go, there are some candidates for the position, but who should be at the top of the list?
The LSU Connections
The obvious name brought up in any conversation is Brian Kelly.
Zinn and Rutgers President William Tate went back to their Tiger routes when hiring Gary Redus to be the new Women’s Basketball coach. Could they do it again here?
Kelly is a major name in college football that would bring immediate intrigue to Rutgers. This would be a national storyline, but would it work on the field?
Kelly made the move from Notre Dame to LSU in hopes of opening up the recruiting angles but it did not lead to wins. However, the salary demands might not be major considering the fact that Kelly is owed $9 million annually from LSU through 2031.
If the LSU connection does not go the way of Kelly, Tigers’ defensive coordinator Blake Baker could also be an option.
If Baker becomes a head coach in the FBS, there is no buyout. He is making $3 million this year at LSU.
Former Coordinators: Some Good, Some Not
If the job opens up, there will be immediate connections to former staff members that left to get head coaching experience elsewhere.
The good — Corey Hetherman.
A former linebackers coach under Schiano, Hetherman has turned into one of the best defensive coordinators in the nation. He has led Top 10 defenses each of the last two years at Minnesota then Miami. Hetherman has also been in a winning locker room over the last two years as the Hurricanes made a run to the National Championship last year and look the part once again in 2026 as the No. 1 team in the nation.
Hetherman looks like a head coach and will likely get the chance soon. This is a solid option.
The not so good — Joe Harasymiak and Fran Brown.
Joe Harasymiak was the D.C. under Schiano for two years before leaving for the UMass job. Do not let the win over Rutgers fool you, UMass has not been good. The Minutemen went 0-12 last year. The win over the Scarlet Knights was the team’s claim to fame but four straight losses have come as the competition took a step up from the likes of Stonehill and Sacramento State.
Fran Brown is another New Jersey native that has been a head coach for three years not at Syracuse. The Big Ten is not the ACC. This would not feel like an inspired hire.
Can James Madison Do It Again?
Curt Cignetti turned Indiana around quickly. Bob Chesney is currently doing the same at UCLA. Both were head coaches at James Madison.
Is this a coincidence? It might be but the current Dukes head coach is another former FBS man.
Billy Napier was fired at Florida and went to coach James Madison. He had some success at Florida but it felt like the expectations got the best of him. Napier could be an intriguing option for Rutgers.
James Madison is currently 7-2 this year. Before Florida, Napier went 40-12 at Louisiana.
Others Looking To Step Up
Dan Mullen is a name that could bring conversation among fans.
Mullen turned Mississippi State around in the SEC before finding some success at Florida. Like Napier, his time just ran out and he went to UNLV. The Rebels won 10 games last year and are 5-3 this season. Mullen is a prime candidate to return to a power conference.
If Rutgers is interested in Jason Eck, it might have just caught a break,
Eck is a Wisconsin native who played along the offensive line for the Badgers. It felt like a match with the struggles of Wisconsin and Eck looking to take that step up. Wisconsin was ranked in the Top 25 last week. Despite an ugly loss to Iowa, it might be difficult to move on from Luke Fickell after this season.
That means Eck could have other suitors and Rutgers gives him a chance to coach in the Big Ten.
Rutgers fans, who do you want to see replace Schiano if a move is made?
