John Perry, who has over 30 seasons of coaching experience, including as a head coach and in the NFL, rejoined the Scarlet Knights in 2023 as a senior analyst. He spent 2022 as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Sam Houston State and worked seven years as an assistant coach for the Houston Texans (four coaching the wide receivers after starting as the tight ends coach). Perry was previously on the RU staff in 2021.
• The Scarlet Knights showed continued progress in 2023 with seven wins for the program’s first winning season since 2014. The campaign was capped by a 31-24 win over Miami in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.
• In 2019, Perry’s group helped the Texans tie a team record for most overall touchdowns scored (46) in a single season (2009 and 2012) and set franchise records for highest redzone touchdown percentage (64.2) and fewest three-and-outs (24). Houston also tallied 27 receptions of 30-or-more yards in 2019, which tied for third in the NFL. WR DeAndre Hopkins was named an
Associated Press NFL All-Pro First Team selection for a third-straight season and earned his third-straight Pro Bowl nod after leading the team with 104 receptions, 1,165 yards and seven touchdowns.
• In 2018, the Texans captured an AFC South title with an 11-5 record, with rookie WR Keke Coutee adding to the unit by hauling in 11 passes for 109 yards in his NFL debut, marking the most receptions by a rookie wideout in an NFL debut since the NFL/AFL merger.
• As tight ends coach from 2014-16, Perry helped the Texans win back-to-back AFC South division championships in 2015-16 and post three-straight winning seasons. Texans’ tight ends had the most productive season in franchise history in 2016. Perry’s unit improved by NFL-bests of 74 receptions and 4.6 receptions per game over its 2015 totals and finished with second-best increases in receiving yards (646) and receiving yards per game (40.4).
• Before joining the Texans, Perry was the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Delaware (2013).
• Perry served as head coach at NCAA Division II Merrimack College for five seasons (2008-12), where he led the Warriors to a record of 29-21 and the 2009 Northeast-10 title. During his tenure, Merrimack produced six All-Americans and two Northeast-10 Conference Players of the Year. Perry’s up-tempo, high-scoring offense was one of the best in the league for all five of his seasons on campus, as Merrimack won the Northeast-10 Championship in 2009. The team ranked second in the nation in total offense in 2012 at 525.8 yards per game and finished in the top 10 in 2009 (fourth), 2010 (ninth) and 2011 (seventh).
• Perry began his coaching career as running backs coach at Northeastern in 1993, and later served as receivers coach at Brown (1994-96). He also had stops as receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at New Hampshire (1997-98), offensive coordinator at Dartmouth (1999-2004), associate head coach and quarterbacks coach at Georgetown (2005), offensive coordinator at Hofstra (2006) and associate head coach and quarterbacks coach at New Hampshire (2007).
• A 1992 graduate of New Hampshire, Perry enjoyed a standout career as a football and basketball player for the Wildcats. He was a four-year starter in football, served as team captain as a senior, and was a two-time All-Yankee Conference selection while setting several receiving records.
Hometown: Andover, Mass.
Alma Mater: New Hampshire, 1992
Wife: Jen
Children: Daughters, Caitlin and Elizabeth; Son, John
2023-present: Rutgers (senior analyst)
2022: Sam Houston State (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
2021: Rutgers (offensive assistant)
2017-20: Houston Texans (wide receivers)
2014-16: Houston Texans (tight ends)
2013: Delaware (passing game coordinator/quarterbacks)
2008-12: Merrimack (head coach)
2007: New Hampshire (associate head coach/quarterbacks)
2006: Hofstra (offensive coordinator)
2005: Georgetown (associate head coach/quarterbacks)
1999-2004: Dartmouth (offensive coordinator)
1997-98: New Hampshire (wide receivers/recruiting coordinator)
1994-96: Brown (wide receivers)
1993: Northeastern (running backs)
