Greg Schiano, head coach of Rutgers Scarlet Knights, addressed the 2025 Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas, sharing insights on the state of college football and his team’s preparations for the upcoming season. Schiano expressed gratitude towards Commissioner Petitti and welcomed new university president William Tate from LSU.
Schiano introduced three key players: quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, wide receiver Ian Strong, and linebacker DJ Djabome. He praised their leadership and contributions to the team. Schiano also acknowledged his coaching staff, highlighting offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca and returning co-defensive coordinators Robb Smith and Zach Sparber.
Addressing questions about Rutgers’ performance, Schiano emphasized discipline in defense and ball security as priorities. “The ball is the program at our place,” he stated, emphasizing continuous improvement and aspirations for a championship.
On navigating NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and transfer portals, Schiano highlighted cultural fit as crucial in recruiting players. “Fit is culture. Fit is athletic ability. Fit is student-athlete,” he noted.
Discussing college football’s evolution with revenue sharing and salary caps, Schiano advocated for allowing current changes to settle before making further adjustments. He supported player compensation but urged patience to evaluate the effectiveness of recent reforms.
Schiano concluded by expressing excitement for his 37th year coaching and anticipation for the upcoming season.
