Drew Lascari is in his seventh season on the Rutgers football staff and third as safeties coach in 2024. The Pequannock, New Jersey, native has been part of the Scarlet Knights’ defensive success while developing players for the NFL. He first joined the Scarlet Knights in 2018 after serving as head coach at Cardinal Mooney High School in Florida.
• The defense in 2023 helped Rutgers to its first winning season since 2014 and a victory in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. The unit ranked 16th nationally in total defense (313.5), posting its best mark and ranking for a season in the Big Ten era. RU limited 10 opponents under 30 points, five under 20 points and three in single digits to rank No. 32 nationally in scoring defense (21.2). In addition, Rutgers ranked 10th nationally in passing defense (176.3) and 15th in red zone defense (75.6 percent), posting 11 stops. In Big Ten play, Rutgers posted its best marks for total defense (337.9) and scoring defense (25.1) in a conference season since joining the league.
• DB Flip Dixon earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition, also being rated as the No. 12 safety in the Big Ten by
Pro Football Focus.
• Lascari moved up to safeties coach in 2022, as the defense improved by allowing 46.7 less yards per game compared to 2021, 28.1 less passing yards and 18.6 less rushing yards. The Scarlet Knights posted their best mark in total defense (349.8) in 10 years at the time.
• DB Christian Izien (84 tackles with five for loss) and DB Avery Young (84 tackles and five passes defended), both starting safeties, earned honorable mention All-Big Ten status, finished their careers with over 300 tackles and signed NFL contracts. Izien had interceptions in his first two games with Buccaneers in helping the team to the playoffs as a rookie.
• Lascari served as a defensive assistant for two years (2020-21), seeing DB Tre Avery earn Third Team All-Big Ten (coaches & media) in 2020 and DB Kessawn Abraham grade to First Team All-Big Ten by
Pro Football Focus in 2021. Avery signed with the Tennessee Titans and played in 14 games with nine passes defended as a rookie.
• Lascari took over as quarterbacks coach for the final eight games of the 2019 season. He first joined the Scarlet Knights in 2018 as special teams quality control coach.
• Lascari spent three seasons (2015-17) at the helm of the Cardinal Mooney varsity team in Sarasota, Florida.
• The job responsibilities included establishing the structure, core beliefs and goals for the football program. He organized all practices, game plan implementation and scheduling, while managing a staff of 15 coaches. He also oversaw the academic progress management for each student and designed the team’s strength program.
• Lascari led a six-win improvement as the team went from 2-8 in year one to an 8-2 regular-season record in his second season.
• Lascari began coaching career at Don Bosco Prep, where he spent five seasons with the Ironmen. He served as the offensive coordinator during his tenure, including coaching the wide receiver and quarterback positions. He also handled duties as the team’s NCAA placement coordinator and head strength coach.
• Lascari developed the daily practice schedule and scripts, as well as handled all offensive installations, scouting reports and game film analysis.
• Lascari coached former Rutgers wide receiver, All-Big Ten selection and NFL draft pick WR Leonte Carroo.
• Lascari graduated from Pequannock Township High School and later played football at SUNY Cortland, where he was a four-year letterwinner and Academic All-American.
• Lascari earned a bachelor’s degree in health science from SUNY Cortland and a master’s degree in sports management at Columbia University.
Hometown: Pequannock, N.J.
Alma Mater: SUNY Cortland, 2007
Wife: Ashlyn
Child: Daughter, Serena
2022-present: Rutgers (safeties)
2020-21: Rutgers (defensive assistant)
2019: Rutgers (quarterbacks)
2018-19: Rutgers (special teams quality control)
2015-17: Cardinal Mooney High School (head coach)
2010-14: Don Bosco Prep (wide receivers/quarterbacks/offensive coordinator)
