PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Greg Schiano coached more than 80 players who have gone on to sign NFL contracts during his first stint as Rutgers head football coach from 2001-11. The list includes eight Scarlet Knights on active NFL rosters, three first round draft selections and 10 Super Bowl champions.
Several former standouts under Schiano reacted to the news that their old head coach
was back "On the Banks."
"Coach Schiano is one of the biggest influences in my life. His ability to develop young men is second to none. He instilled a tireless work ethic, leadership, mental toughness, character building and the ability to fight through adversity into every single one of his players. I have more respect and appreciation for him than any coach I have ever been around. He is choosing to take on a monumental uphill battle, not for the money or notoriety, but because he knows what this program is capable of and wants to make the Rutgers football program proud again. I am beyond excited for the program, its fans, and alumni, but most of all the current and future Rutgers football players. Finally Coach Schiano, the man with the vision, work ethic, and proven track record will be given the opportunity to change the trajectory of this program."
"When you're young coming in, you don't appreciate how intense he is. But as you get older, you realize everything he has instilled in you and how it has paid dividends for you in the future. He was consistent in what he expected from you as a player, and it is something I've appreciated as years have gone by. He's honest and it's the right decision for him to come back and help build Rutgers into a Big Ten contender."
"I'm fired up to have Coach Schiano back at Rutgers. I was able to witness firsthand how he was able to develop student-athletes on and off the field, and I'm excited to watch him build upon his legacy at Rutgers University."
"It's amazing to have Coach Schiano back here at Rutgers University. He's done so much for me in my personal career. The culture he built here allowed me to form relationships that will last a lifetime. I'm super blessed to have had him as a coach, and I know the University is blessed to have him back."
"I think this is great for Coach Schiano and Rutgers. I can't wait to see where he takes the program."
"It's great to see Coach Schiano back right where he belongs. With him in charge, Rutgers will look like the great teams of his era."
"Having a chance to play for Coach Schiano as a younger kid, you kind of take for granted what he really means to the program and really means to the players. He makes you a better person and demands the best out of you every single day, and that's hard for a college kid to expect to be perfect every single day. He knows you're never going to be perfect, but he's going to try and get the best out of you every single day. You'll take that with you for the rest of your life. Our fan base has something to be excited about [with Schiano]. This will be a football team that is prepared, plays hard and goes out every Saturday and gives it its all."
"He's legendary. Greg has helped me in so many ways. I came to Rutgers as a boy and he turned me into a man. He taught us more than just football. He taught us about how important family is, and that's how we treated one another when we were all here and preached 'Forget About Me, I Love You.' Both on the field and in the classroom, he taught us to lean on one another."
"I think it's an absolute game-changer that
Greg Schiano is coming back, and I feel that alumni, our fan base and former players feel that way as well. As I told a lot of people during this process, we can change the game overnight once Greg comes on board, and I'm super excited about that. My family is very passionate about what he have built here, and now we're going to bring it back.
Greg Schiano is the man that can turn this around and he's the leader that this state and this program need moving forward."
"I'm fired up to see what's to come for Rutgers. Schiano had a lot of success his first time there and I got to witness first hand the lessons he taught us as a head coach."
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Greg Schiano coming back as Rutgers head football coach has given the program a renewed dose of enthusiasm. He has galvanized support for the team throughout the state of New Jersey. As a player under Coach Schiano, it became clear that in every situation we were pushed, developed and molded to be good players and better people. Trust, accountability and sacrifice were some of the core values of the program, and those principles have not only assisted me in having success after Rutgers, but have allowed me to be a better husband, father and member of society."
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