Former Bucknell Football Player Greg Schiano '88 Named Head Football Coach of NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1/26/2012 7:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 26, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Former Bucknell football player Greg Schiano '88 was named the head football coach of the National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday. The first Bucknell graduate to serve as an NFL head coach, Schiano was team captain of the Bison football team as a senior in 1987.
A three-year letterman at linebacker, Schiano topped the team in tackles as a junior with 114 and was named all-conference.
Schiano, a native of Wyckoff, N.J., was recruited to Bucknell by current Bison head football coach Joe Susan, who was an assistant at the time. Susan later served as an assistant at Rutgers under Schiano for nine years before returning to Bucknell in January 2010.
"The hiring of Greg Schiano is an outstanding move by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers," said Susan. "I am certain he did a lot of research into making this decision and came to the conclusion that at this time in his career it is best for him and his family. He is someone who will bring great discipline and organization to the team. He is a great evaluator of talent and utilizes the skill set of the people in his program to their maximum efficiency. Beyond that, he is passionate about coaching the game of football. That is what he does best."
Schiano, 45, compiled a 68-67 record in his 11 years at the helm of the Scarlet Knights, including 49-28 since 2006. This past year he led Rutgers to a 9-4 mark and a Pinstripe Bowl victory over Iowa State. It was the Scarlet Knights' sixth bowl appearance in a seven-year span, and their fifth consecutive bowl win.
The 2006 National Coach of the Year and Big East Coach of the year, Schiano was the architect of transforming the Rutgers program into one of the nation's best. Prior to his arrival, the Scarlet Knights had not posted a record above .500 for nearly a decade and had qualified for one bowl game in 131 years of football.
Schiano will be joining a Tampa Bay team that was 4-12 in 2011 and finished in fourth place in the NFC South.
