Charlie Noonan is in his first season as Rutgers' defensive tackles coach in 2025. A four-year letterwinner (2007-10), team captain and starter at defensive tackle for the Scarlet Knights, Noonan has been on staff since 2020.
• As assistant linebackers coach in 2024, Noonan worked with Dariel Djabome, who earned Third Team All-Big Ten accolades. Djabome ranked fifth in the league with 8.1 tackles per game, totaled 105 stops overall, the fifth-most in a season in the head coach Greg Schiano era, and led RU with 7.5 tackles-for-loss. Tyreem Powell also merited honorable mention All-Big Ten honors at linebacker, earned an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine and signed with the New Orleans Saints.
• Noonan joined Schiano’s initial staff when he returned in 2020 and worked as interim defensive line coach that season. The Scarlet Knights led the Big Ten and ranked No. 11 nationally with 7.8 tackles-for-loss per game and posted three contests in double figures with a season-high 13 coming in a win at Maryland. Rutgers posted 21 sacks, which are the most for the team in a Big Ten season. DL Michael Dwumfour signed with the New York Jets after the season.
• Working with the defensive line in 2021, Rutgers held opponents to 52-for-162 on third down (32.1 percent), the 11th-best percentage nationally following the regular season. The Scarlet Knights also finished the season holding opponents to under 300 yards of total offense on six different occasions.
• Noonan shifted to focusing on linebackers 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. LB Deion Jennings earned honorable mention All-Big Ten and collected the Homer Hazel Award as the team’s most valuable player after posting 91 tackles with 8.5 for loss and six pass breakups.
• The 2023 season was capped with a victory over Miami in the Pinstripe Bowl, as the defense ranked 16th nationally in total defense (313.5), posting its best mark and ranking for a season in the Big Ten era. In addition, Rutgers ranked 10th nationally in passing defense (176.3) and 15th in red zone defense (75.6 percent), posting 11 stops, while its rushing defense mark of 137.2 was the best for the team in the Big Ten era. Jennings earned honorable mention All-Big Ten status and signed with the Baltimore Ravens.
• Noonan was previously a graduate assistant for Rutgers (2013-14) during the program’s transition to the Big Ten. He mentored all-conference selection Kemoko Turay, who was named a Freshman All-American after leading the team with 7.5 sacks during the 2014 campaign. In 2013, RU allowed just 100.8 rushing yards per game, the fourth-best mark in the country.
• Noonan spent four seasons (2015-18) as defensive line coach at Holy Cross. During his first season with the Crusaders, Noonan coached DE Dewayne Cameron, who earned First Team All-Patriot League honors twice, as well as a spot on the All-New England First Team. In 2016, DE Ryan Smith led the Patriot League with 12 sacks. Then in 2017, his defense posted 23 sacks and forced 12 fumbles, while DL Teddy Capsis took home First Team All-Patriot League accolades in 2018.
• Noonan then served as linebackers coach and run defensive coordinator for Lehigh in 2019. The team produced the top rushing defense in the Patriot League that season. LB Keith Woetzel claimed Second Team All-America and First Team All-Patriot League honors for the Mountain Hawks, as he led the conference in tackles (118), sacks (12) and tackles-for-loss (17.5).
• Noonan worked at Division III Thiel College (Pa.) in 2012. Competing in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, Thiel’s defense finished its season first in the league in both sacks and rushing defense, while finishing in second place in tackles-for-loss and total defense.
• In 2011, Noonan served as a volunteer assistant coach at the Haverford School (Pa.), where he worked with the defense.
• A Philadelphia native, Noonan earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in labor and employment relations from Rutgers in 2010.
• Noonan served as a captain as a senior, winning both the Frank R. Burns Award (the player who displays extraordinary mental and physical toughness during spring practice) and Iron Knight Award (presented to the player who has demonstrated an exceptionally high level of mental and physical toughness throughout the year).
• He played in 48 career games overall, including the victories in the St. Petersburg and PapaJohns.com Bowls, totaling 72 tackles.
• Noonan signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2011.
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa.
Alma Mater: Rutgers, 2010
Wife: Taylor
Child: Son, Beau
2025-present: Rutgers (defensive tackles)
2023-24: Rutgers (assistant linebackers)
2022: Rutgers (defensive assistant/linebackers)
2021: Rutgers (defensive assistant/defensive line)
2020: Rutgers (interim defensive line)
2019: Lehigh (linebackers/run defensive coordinator)
2015-18: Holy Cross (defensive line)
2013-14: Rutgers (graduate assistant)
2012: Thiel (defensive assistant)
2011: Haverford School (volunteer defensive assistant)
