Coaching and Support Staff

[RUAldo]

I know this has been discussed a lot but it’s a whole different story to actually go through and read the bloated and unqualified staff. Not to mention we have Joe Schiano, John Schiano, and Matt Schiano all on the payroll?!?! Is this for real?

2026 Football Coaches - Rutgers University Athletics

The official Football Coach List for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights

scarletknights.com

Nothing personal against these people, but our Director of Recruiting, Mike Cardinali, has no bio description. Go to LinkedIn and he graduated from Hobart in 2024, played lacrosse, had zero job experience, and has now been promoted twice in 2 years.

Our “Director of Football Academics” (Meekins - yes great player) was the “In-School Suspension Coordinator for the Teaneck Board of Education” before getting hired.

 

[Colbert17!]

Ridiculous

 

[MrsScrew]

I brought up the nepotism last year, back when the $11m+ support staff salaries were being discussed.
In 2024 Our support staff salaries were almost double what the next closest school was. And for what?

 

[RUAldo]

I brought up the nepotism last year, back when the $11m+ support staff salaries were being discussed.
In 2024 Our support staff salaries were almost double what the next closest school was. And for what?


View attachment 1432991

With all the **** Politi slings, has he or anyone other media outlet gone through these numbers? Do we know how much Joe/Matt/John Schiano are all making at Schiano & Sons Co.? So many staff members don’t have bios, no LinkedIn profiles, no experience…this is your typical NJ BS waste and corruption why would anyone with a brain and a dollar donate a penny to this program.

 

[rutgersguy2]

I guess that can happen when you have an AD that doesn’t have tight reins on the department or no AD at all like we did for a year.

The bloated staff can also be insulation from firing. Harder and more costly to fire someone when you probably also have to let go many of the staff that are attached to the HC too.

 

[rcube1994]

Were his kids hired when hobbs or zinn were AD?

Does anyone have number of staff per year, curious if this happened under one or both ADs?

Can see it now, scathing expose in star ledger, governor uses it for political gain and gets the taxpayers riled up, schiano fired for cause.

Ignore the fact that the ADs let him do all this.

 

[kupuna133]

I guess that can happen when you have an AD that doesn’t have tight reins on the department or no AD at all like we did for a year.

The bloated staff can also be insulation from firing. Harder and more costly to fire someone when you probably also have to let go many of the staff that are attached to the HC too.

Haven’t you and I been talking about this for 3 years? Glad people are starting to open their eyes.

 

[kupuna133]

Were his kids hired when hobbs or zinn were AD?

Does anyone have number of staff per year, curious if this happened under one or both ADs?

Can see it now, scathing expose in star ledger, governor uses it for political gain and gets the taxpayers riled up, schiano fired for cause.

Ignore the fact that the ADs let him do all this.

This has been discussed. It ballooned in the 2022-23 time frame. And got out of hand when Hobbs was doing goat yoga and Pisarri stepped in. Koko shared the numbers regarding staff size .it is 2.5-3x median B1G staff size. And top
3 in spending.

 

[MrsScrew]

Were his kids hired when hobbs or zinn were AD?

Does anyone have number of staff per year, curious if this happened under one or both ADs?

Can see it now, scathing expose in star ledger, governor uses it for political gain and gets the taxpayers riled up, schiano fired for cause.

Ignore the fact that the ADs let him do all this.

Joe Schiano's Bio says he is in year 4, so that's Hobbs

I was talking about the nepotism last year, so I'm going to say all the Schianos were hired on Hobbs watch.

 

[kupuna133]

Joe Schiano's Bio says he is in year 4, so that's Hobbs

I was talking about the nepotism last year, so I'm going to say all the Schianos were hired on Hobbs watch.

Joe was on staff in 2020. Twins came on in the 2022-23 range. At one point there were 6 Schiano/ Ciarrocas on staff.
3 Schiano/Ciarrocas were responsible for a single position group. That has 3-4 players in that room. Yep Kirk qb coach and his son and Greg’s son were his qb assistant coaches.

 

[Colbert17!]

Joe was on staff in 2020. Twins came on in the 2022-23 range. At one point there were 6 Schiano/ Ciarrocas on staff.
3 Schiano/Ciarrocas were responsible for a single position group. That has 3-4 players in that room. Yep Kirk qb coach and his son and Greg’s son were his qb assistant coaches.

I mentioned this last year. At one point we had more coaches than scholarship athletes in the QB room.

 

[RUAldo]

Haven’t you and I been talking about this for 3 years? Glad people are starting to open their eyes.

Joe Susan = “Special Assistant to the Head Coach” - I thought he was long gone. This is likely a no show job.

Kevin MacConnell - “Chief of Staff” - Greg brought him to Tampa Bay where his job was “managed several elements of Schiano’s off-field agenda, including player and staff communications, football and stadium operations, scheduling and personal requests” - so he was Greg’s secretary. The guy was basically unemployable which explains why he Worked for Academy Buses before Greg brought him back to RU.

These are just a few examples. Most of the staff is unqualified which is why so many bios are empty. Then go to LinkedIn and see we have guys on the payroll that invented a golf ball grabbing device and list Uber driver under experience.

How has the media missed this golden opportunity to hit RU football where it counts = waste of donor and tax payer money?

 

[kupuna133]

I mentioned this last year. At one point we had more coaches than scholarship athletes in the QB room.

Yep I know I’ve had this conversation going back to 2023-24. I had to look it up after I went to a spring practice. To see what everyone’s title was.

 

[RU#1fan]

I know this has been discussed a lot but it’s a whole different story to actually go through and read the bloated and unqualified staff. Not to mention we have Joe Schiano, John Schiano, and Matt Schiano all on the payroll?!?! Is this for real?

2026 Football Coaches - Rutgers University Athletics

The official Football Coach List for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights

scarletknights.com

Nothing personal against these people, but our Director of Recruiting, Mike Cardinali, has no bio description. Go to LinkedIn and he graduated from Hobart in 2024, played lacrosse, had zero job experience, and has now been promoted twice in 2 years.

Our “Director of Football Academics” (Meekins - yes great player) was the “In-School Suspension Coordinator for the Teaneck Board of Education” before getting hired.

The nepotism at a public university is insane and never should be allowed. The unqualified buffoons on the over bloated Staff makes us look like a circus.

 

[kupuna133]

Joe Susan = “Special Assistant to the Head Coach” - I thought he was long gone. This is likely a no show job.

Kevin MacConnell - “Chief of Staff” - Greg brought him to Tampa Bay where his job was “managed several elements of Schiano’s off-field agenda, including player and staff communications, football and stadium operations, scheduling and personal requests” - so he was Greg’s secretary. The guy was basically unemployable which explains why he Worked for Academy Buses before Greg brought him back to RU.

These are just a few examples. Most of the staff is unqualified which is why so many bios are empty. Then go to LinkedIn and see we have guys on the payroll that invented a golf ball grabbing device and list Uber driver under experience.

How has the media missed this golden opportunity to hit RU football where it counts = waste of donor and tax payer money?

You picked the wrong 2 names to use as your example. . Joe and Matt are 2 of the hardest workers most qualified and deserving of their roles.

 

[Bueller]

That staffing monstrosity stood out to me more than the bad football.
I counted 75 people (including coaches) this year and it was over 80 last year (Kirk had a relative on staff too)
11.1 million for RU football staffing when Indiana spends 2.9 is a sign of a disconnect.
The more people you have the more dispersal of responsibility manifests and people don't know who is doing what - if anything.
Cigs and Indiana are big on efficiency (Monday and Friday practices are only 20 minutes each) and RU is a bloat monster

 

[RUAldo]

You picked the wrong 2 names to use as your example. . Joe and Matt are 2 of the hardest workers most qualified and deserving of their roles.

I don’t think you can say that about a single person on the payroll. In fact, since they arguably have some of the most experience I would say they are most culpable in this corruption scheme.

 

[RUAldo]

The nepotism at a public university is insane and never should be allowed. The unqualified buffoons on the over bloated Staff makes us look like a circus.

I totally misunderstood the meaning of F.A.M.I.L.Y. = I didn’t realize it meant Schiano hired all of his friends, kids of friends, and his own family members.

 

[kupuna133]

I don’t think you can say that about a single person on the payroll. In fact, since they arguably have some of the most experience I would say they are most culpable in this corruption scheme.

You can literally pick anyone on that roster that can fit the narrative. You picked 2 people that have done more to right the ship than steer it astray.

I’m one of Greg’s harshest critics. And have pointed out this abomination of a staff for 3 plus years. Thanks for finally waking up. But youre off base if you think these guys are grifters.

 

[Knight Shift]

I guess that can happen when you have an AD that doesn’t have tight reins on the department or no AD at all like we did for a year.

The bloated staff can also be insulation from firing. Harder and more costly to fire someone when you probably also have to let go many of the staff that are attached to the HC too.

That would make it easier for a real leader.

Whenever you see a leader surround himself with a bunch of yes men and old cronies, the result will be what we have. We have seen it before, and we will see it again. Not just at Rutgers

 

[kupuna133]

That would make it easier for a real leader.

Whenever you see a leader surround himself with a bunch of yes men and old cronies, the result will be what we have. We have seen it before, and we will see it again. Not just at Rutgers

Yep I know you and I have talked about this on and off line. This is nothing new. It’s just embarrassing that he flaunts it without accountability.

 

[RedChucken123]

Ignoring credentials or potential nepotism, I would look at the Strength and Conditioning coach.

We’ve been getting manhandled on both sides of the line by these schools. Can’t even get a 4th and short multiple times.

 

[RUJMM78]

It would be informative to know the tasks assigned to support staff,Its rathetr obvious the coaching staff is mediocre based on the first two games.Athletic departments should be evaluated based on team won/loss records and how that compares with other other league rivals.In Rutgers case with the addition of the four west coast schools Rutgers has great difficulty in being ranked in the middle of league standings for many sports.Football and mens basketball are the two top money generating sports but have the hardest time competing in the B1G Ten.

 

[RUAldo]

It would be informative to know the tasks assigned to support staff,Its rathetr obvious the coaching staff is mediocre based on the first two games.Athletic departments should be evaluated based on team won/loss records and how that compares with other other league rivals.In Rutgers case with the addition of the four west coast schools Rutgers has great difficulty in being ranked in the middle of league standings for many sports.Football and mens basketball are the two top money generating sports but have the hardest time competing in the B1G Ten.

Exactly which is why it blows my mind so many bios are empty.

 

[Knight Shift]

You picked the wrong 2 names to use as your example. . Joe and Matt are 2 of the hardest workers most qualified and deserving of their roles.

You nailed it. Joe Susan is quite active on the sidelines during games.

And KMAC may be the hardest working man on the staff. Guy does more for many donors than a good chunk of the RFund people. Guy is relentless with details and keeping donors engaged.

 

[needmorecowbell]

Greg is going to get fired. It will be almost impossible to come back from this 0-2 start.

That being said, the OP is reaching at best. Greg has his own issues with hiring but to suggest his coaches are unqualified or getting no show jobs is just stupid. The staff works incredibly hard and many people don’t last long due to the grueling nature of the jobs.

 

[MrsScrew]

If Rutgers cuts the support staff down to $5m, which based on the chart I posted is about average, that's $6m/year in savings which covers the $18m owed to Greg

 

[kupuna133]

If Rutgers cuts the support staff down to $5m, which based on the chart I posted is about average, that's $6m/year in savings which covers the $18m owed to Greg

Yep. Multiple people have posted a cost analysis that shows exactly what you just posted. Factoring in lost revenue by keeping Greg and his bloated staff. Firing him now rather than delaying is actually a cost reduction. If staff and spending come back to the mean.

 

[Knight Shift]

If Rutgers cuts the support staff down to $5m, which based on the chart I posted is about average, that's $6m/year in savings which covers the $18m owed to Greg

We have a math major on board! And someone with common sense. This buyout is too high narrative is nonsense. Stadium will be empty for home games until he is gone, losing more $$$.

 

[Knight Shift]

Yep. Multiple people have posted a cost analysis that shows exactly what you just posted. Factoring in lost revenue by keeping Greg and his bloated staff. Firing him now rather than delaying is actually a cost reduction. If staff and spending come back to the mean.

We have a math major on board! And someone with common sense. This buyout is too high narrative is nonsense. Stadium will be empty for home games until he is gone, losing more $$$.

There is an echo in this thread

 

[kupuna133]

There is an echo in this thread

Wish I could say great minds. But I think we both know that’s not true.

 

[LETSGORU91]

If Rutgers cuts the support staff down to $5m, which based on the chart I posted is about average, that's $6m/year in savings which covers the $18m owed to Greg

Boom!!! Solution which makes sense. Greg can load up the family mini-van with his kids, then fill the rest with others and get out of town. Total staff spending for this show is mind boggling!!!!

 

[LETSGORU91]

I know this has been discussed a lot but it’s a whole different story to actually go through and read the bloated and unqualified staff. Not to mention we have Joe Schiano, John Schiano, and Matt Schiano all on the payroll?!?! Is this for real?

2026 Football Coaches - Rutgers University Athletics

The official Football Coach List for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights

scarletknights.com

Nothing personal against these people, but our Director of Recruiting, Mike Cardinali, has no bio description. Go to LinkedIn and he graduated from Hobart in 2024, played lacrosse, had zero job experience, and has now been promoted twice in 2 years.

Our “Director of Football Academics” (Meekins - yes great player) was the “In-School Suspension Coordinator for the Teaneck Board of Education” before getting hired.

What is the vetting process and who is responsible?? Jobs are getting scooped up like Halloween candy left on the stoop.

 

[RUAldo]

How about this - fire all his kids TODAY. Way cheaper. Delivers the real message. Then what’s he gonna do? Tank the season? He’s already done that. Stop showing up? Great, makes it easy to fire him. Fire every friend and family member on staff and let that simmer with Greg.

 

[tico brown]

All or most of the Schiano Men and Women who only qualifications is SAYING YES.

 

[RUAldo]

How about this - fire all his kids TODAY. Way cheaper. Delivers the real message. Then what’s he gonna do? Tank the season? He’s already done that. Stop showing up? Great, makes it easy to fire him. Fire every friend and family member on staff and let that simmer with Greg.

Just to add…there is zero downside for RU. This whole thing is already a dumpster fire. So throw his kids and no-show friends out on their asses. If Greg goes berserk the entire world will learn his three sons and bunch of buddies are being paid by a public institution. Hobbs exposed once again. Zinn looks like the responsible hero. Greg will be so bitter may be forces him to either negotiate reasonable buy-out or may be he is so butt-hurt he resigns.

 

[Caliknight]

That staffing monstrosity stood out to me more than the bad football.
I counted 75 people (including coaches) this year and it was over 80 last year (Kirk had a relative on staff too)
11.1 million for RU football staffing when Indiana spends 2.9 is a sign of a disconnect.
The more people you have the more dispersal of responsibility manifests and people don't know who is doing what - if anything.
Cigs and Indiana are big on efficiency (Monday and Friday practices are only 20 minutes each) and RU is a bloat monster

The amount of people on the sidelines is crazy. I’m all for supporting the athletes but at some point no one knows who is in charge of what. I think Greg likes having an army. It makes him feel more important.

 

[Caliknight]

Yep I know you and I have talked about this on and off line. This is nothing new. It’s just embarrassing that he flaunts it without accountability.

As soon as the sit in happened and the fans and donors went to the mat for Greg, he knew immediately he was near untouchable. Then a funny thing happened. Hobbs was diddling with the gymnastics coach, a new President was hired, and he hand picked Hobbs replacement. Greg’s power was immediately diminished. Throw in the losing and spending which he was allowed to do unfettered, and he’s squarely in the crosshairs now.

 

[Shelby65]

No, his power isn’t diminished with a new president and AD. It’s diminished only if the Board isn’t as supportive anymore.

 

[MrsScrew]

As soon as the sit in happened and the fans and donors went to the mat for Greg, he knew immediately he was near untouchable. Then a funny thing happened. Hobbs was diddling with the gymnastics coach, a new President was hired, and he hand picked Hobbs replacement. Greg’s power was immediately diminished. Throw in the losing and spending which he was allowed to do unfettered, and he’s squarely in the crosshairs now.

Even more so now that Pikiell announced his cancer diagnosis. You can't fire a guy getting treated for cancer.

Greg is the only one in the crosshairs