Joe Susan Joins Football Staff
Feb 11 | Football
New Jersey native returns to Rutgers with over 40 years of experience
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football head coach Greg Schiano welcomes back Joe Susan to the Rutgers football staff as special assistant to the head coach. The veteran mentor has over 40 years of experience at the collegiate level, including nine recently as head coach at Bucknell and nine on Schiano's previous staff in Piscataway.
"Joe has a wealth of football knowledge and knows what it takes to build a program," said Schiano. "He was an integral part of what we were able to build the first time around. To have Joe and his family back at Rutgers is a blessing and it is where he belongs."
"I consider it a privilege to return to Rutgers," said Susan. "In many ways, it is coming home for me. I know that Greg Schiano has a specific vision for this program and I believe that it will lead to great things for Rutgers and the State of New Jersey. He has created a dynamic staff and I feel fortunate to be a part of it."
Susan most recently served as special assistant to the director of athletics & recreation at Bucknell in 2019 after resigning as head football coach following the 2018 season. He led the Bison for nine seasons, with a high-water mark of 8-3 in 2014 to earn recognition as the Patriot League Coach of the Year.
During his tenure as head coach at Bucknell, Susan's players accounted for 69 All-Patriot League accolades, including a pair of four-year honorees in Julién Davenport and Abdullah Anderson, both of whom are now competing in the NFL. Susan also coached four Patriot League Scholar-Athletes of the Year, and his 2017 team set a record with 48 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selections.
Susan spent nine previous seasons with the Scarlet Knights from 2001-09, helping the program to five consecutive bowl appearances and four bowl championships. He started off as offensive line coach in 2001 on Schiano's original staff before moving to tight ends in 2003 and adding the title of recruiting coordinator in 2004. Susan was integral in securing several highly-touted and nationally-ranked recruiting classes, including the 2009 group that ranked in the ESPN.com Top 25. He also mentored Clark Harris, a three-time All-Big East selection who completed his 12th NFL season in 2019.
Before his time at Rutgers, Susan spent one year as the head coach at Davidson in 2000. He led the Wildcats to a 10-0 record, a single-season record for wins and the only undefeated mark in program history. Susan was named the Coach of the Year by the Division I-AA Independents Sports Information Directors Association. Additionally, he received a Presidential Citation from the University of Delaware for outstanding achievement.
At Princeton, Susan served as both the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for a decade. In addition to recruiting duties at the Ivy League institution, he organized and implemented year-round strength and conditioning programs, developed and coordinated the spring football clinic and coordinated travel plans for away games.
Susan's initial tour of duty at Bucknell began in June 1981. From 1981 through 1988, he was in charge of the offensive line and served as strength coach. Prior to the 1989 campaign, Susan was promoted to assistant head coach while keeping his duties with the offensive line. During that time he recruited Schiano, who served as a co-captain as a senior in 1987, to Bucknell.
Susan's first foray into the coaching profession came at his alma mater, Delaware, where he was a graduate assistant on two separate occasions, separated by a one-year stint at Gettysburg College.
Susan enjoyed an outstanding playing career at Delaware (1973-76), helping his team post a 36-12-1 record. The 1976 Newark Touchdown Club Offensive Lineman of the Year, he helped the Blue Hens capture two Lambert Cups (1974, 1976) and reach the 1974 NCAA Division II national championship game.
In addition to a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Delaware, Susan earned his master's in physical education with an emphasis in exercise physiology from his alma mater in 1982.
A native of South River, New Jersey, Susan was inducted into his high school's Hall of Fame in 2014.
Personal
Hometown: South River, N.J.
Alma Mater: Delaware, 1976 (psychology)
Wife: Cynthia
Children: Two daughters, Jessica and Julia; Son, Matthew
Experience
2020-present: Rutgers (special assistant to the head coach)
2019: Bucknell (special assistant to the director of athletics & recreation)
2010-18: Bucknell (head coach)
2003-09: Rutgers (tight ends/recruiting coordinator)
2001-03: Rutgers (offensive line)
2000: Davidson (head coach)
Spring 2000: Memphis (offensive line)
1991-99: Princeton (offensive coordinator/offensive line)
1989-90: Bucknell (assistant head coach/offensive line)
1981-88: Bucknell (offensive line/strength coach)
1980: Delaware (graduate assistant)
1979: Gettysburg (part-time assistant)
1977-78: Delaware (graduate assistant)
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding football, follow the program on Twitter @RFootball.
"Joe has a wealth of football knowledge and knows what it takes to build a program," said Schiano. "He was an integral part of what we were able to build the first time around. To have Joe and his family back at Rutgers is a blessing and it is where he belongs."
"I consider it a privilege to return to Rutgers," said Susan. "In many ways, it is coming home for me. I know that Greg Schiano has a specific vision for this program and I believe that it will lead to great things for Rutgers and the State of New Jersey. He has created a dynamic staff and I feel fortunate to be a part of it."
Susan most recently served as special assistant to the director of athletics & recreation at Bucknell in 2019 after resigning as head football coach following the 2018 season. He led the Bison for nine seasons, with a high-water mark of 8-3 in 2014 to earn recognition as the Patriot League Coach of the Year.
During his tenure as head coach at Bucknell, Susan's players accounted for 69 All-Patriot League accolades, including a pair of four-year honorees in Julién Davenport and Abdullah Anderson, both of whom are now competing in the NFL. Susan also coached four Patriot League Scholar-Athletes of the Year, and his 2017 team set a record with 48 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selections.
Susan spent nine previous seasons with the Scarlet Knights from 2001-09, helping the program to five consecutive bowl appearances and four bowl championships. He started off as offensive line coach in 2001 on Schiano's original staff before moving to tight ends in 2003 and adding the title of recruiting coordinator in 2004. Susan was integral in securing several highly-touted and nationally-ranked recruiting classes, including the 2009 group that ranked in the ESPN.com Top 25. He also mentored Clark Harris, a three-time All-Big East selection who completed his 12th NFL season in 2019.
Before his time at Rutgers, Susan spent one year as the head coach at Davidson in 2000. He led the Wildcats to a 10-0 record, a single-season record for wins and the only undefeated mark in program history. Susan was named the Coach of the Year by the Division I-AA Independents Sports Information Directors Association. Additionally, he received a Presidential Citation from the University of Delaware for outstanding achievement.
At Princeton, Susan served as both the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for a decade. In addition to recruiting duties at the Ivy League institution, he organized and implemented year-round strength and conditioning programs, developed and coordinated the spring football clinic and coordinated travel plans for away games.
Susan's initial tour of duty at Bucknell began in June 1981. From 1981 through 1988, he was in charge of the offensive line and served as strength coach. Prior to the 1989 campaign, Susan was promoted to assistant head coach while keeping his duties with the offensive line. During that time he recruited Schiano, who served as a co-captain as a senior in 1987, to Bucknell.
Susan's first foray into the coaching profession came at his alma mater, Delaware, where he was a graduate assistant on two separate occasions, separated by a one-year stint at Gettysburg College.
Susan enjoyed an outstanding playing career at Delaware (1973-76), helping his team post a 36-12-1 record. The 1976 Newark Touchdown Club Offensive Lineman of the Year, he helped the Blue Hens capture two Lambert Cups (1974, 1976) and reach the 1974 NCAA Division II national championship game.
In addition to a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Delaware, Susan earned his master's in physical education with an emphasis in exercise physiology from his alma mater in 1982.
A native of South River, New Jersey, Susan was inducted into his high school's Hall of Fame in 2014.
Personal
Hometown: South River, N.J.
Alma Mater: Delaware, 1976 (psychology)
Wife: Cynthia
Children: Two daughters, Jessica and Julia; Son, Matthew
Experience
2020-present: Rutgers (special assistant to the head coach)
2019: Bucknell (special assistant to the director of athletics & recreation)
2010-18: Bucknell (head coach)
2003-09: Rutgers (tight ends/recruiting coordinator)
2001-03: Rutgers (offensive line)
2000: Davidson (head coach)
Spring 2000: Memphis (offensive line)
1991-99: Princeton (offensive coordinator/offensive line)
1989-90: Bucknell (assistant head coach/offensive line)
1981-88: Bucknell (offensive line/strength coach)
1980: Delaware (graduate assistant)
1979: Gettysburg (part-time assistant)
1977-78: Delaware (graduate assistant)
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding football, follow the program on Twitter @RFootball.
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