Rutgers has been forced to open up its head coaching search after negotiations fell through with Greg Schiano, and one of the top candidates on their list is someone with strong ties to Schiano.
Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is one of Rutgers’ top targets, according to James Kratch of NJ.com. Hafley took over as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Ohio State this year after Schiano left, and he also worked as an assistant on Schiano’s staff at Rutgers in 2011 and with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after that.
Schiano was expected to be named the new coach at Rutgers earlier this month, but the two sides were unable to come to a contract agreement. Schiano was reportedly making some lofty demands that the school did not want to meet, and top boosters for the program are furious that the deal did not get done.
Hiring someone who has ties to Schiano might help lessen the blow, but it likely won’t satisfy the big donors at Rutgers. Hafley is a respected coach who was pursued by an NFL team before the season, so perhaps he can help turn things around for the Scarlet Knights if they land him.
