Rutgers football reportedly has a new defensive coordinator. Head coach Greg Schiano is hiring Joe Harasymiak, the Scarlet Knights confirmed after a breaking report by Pete Thamel surfaced Friday afternoon.
Harasymiak, 35, replaces Robb Smith — formerly Minnesota’s defensive coordinator from 2017-18. Rutgers did not renew Smith’s contract, and he subsequently found his next job as Duke’s defensive coordinator under new head coach Mike Elko.
As an assistant with the Golden Gophers since 2019 under head coach P.J. Fleck, Harasymiak started out coaching Minnesota’s safeties. He maintained that role while adding his additional title of co-defensive coordinator from 2020-21.
“We’re only going to be as good as the defense,” Harasymiak told Gopher Illustrated’s Ryan Burns in April. “Our group together and we keep preaching that about playing together. All about the ‘how.’ I’m not sure that (Minnesota defensive coordinator Joe) Rossi has introduced it to the media, but we have a new ‘knock’ mentality, so have to go out about knock now.”
Prior to Minnesota, Harasymiak was Maine’s head coach from 2016-18. During his time leading the Black Bears, he went 20-15 overall and 15-9 against Colonial Athletic Association play.
Harasymiak guided Maine to an NCAA Division I Semifinal appearance during the 2018 season, going 10-4 (7-1). Originally with the Black Bears as an assistant from 2011-15, Harasymiak mentored the defensive backs (2011-13) before becoming a defensive coordinator and linebackers coach (2014-15).
