A key year for Greg Schiano dissolved into an 5-7 campaign and now has resulted in staff changes for the Rutgers Scarlett Knights, FootballScoop has learned.

Multiple sources tell FootballScoop that Schiano has initiated a major defensive staff overhaul; he has parted ways with co-defensive coordinators Robb Smith and Zach Sparber.

The moves come after Schiano posted his sixth-straight season of six or more losses in his return to Rutgers; Schiano’s lost 41 games at Rutgers since 2020.

Schiano had just officially welcomed Smith and Sparber into the Scarlett Knights program in February of this year.

“I am excited by the opportunity to work with Robb again,” Schiano said in Rutgers release at the time of the hiring. “He is one of the most intelligent football coaches I have ever been around. In Zach, we are hiring a rising star in the profession, who has proven to be a great communicator. Together, I am confident they will lead our defense to new heights. We are thrilled to welcome them both back to New Jersey.

Rutgers’ undermanned defense dropped to No. 119th in scoring defense at 31.83 points per game; it also dropped to No. 126 in total defense as it allowed 432.8 yards per game.

Those figures reflected steep declines from the success that both Smith and Sparber had previously enjoyed.

Just last season, Sparber helped James Madison to a nine-win season in the debut campaign of head coach Bob Chesney with a defense ranked Top 25 in Football Bowls Subdivision play.

Smith had returned to Rutgers for his third stint with the Scarlett Knights; Schiano hired him after Smith had spent a season aboard James Franklin’s program as a senior defensive analyst.

A New Jersey native, Sparber returned to his native staff in a decade-long coaching career that has spanned the high school ranks to working under multiple defensive luminaries in the collegiate space that have included current Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko, a national coach of the year finalists, and former famed Virginia Tech defensive play-caller Bud Foster.

The 2026 season is shaping up to be a momentous season for Schiano and Rutgers. The Knights won just two Big Ten Conference games this season and added three additional wins against an Football Championship Subdivision foe in HBCU program Norfolk State as well as two Mid-American Conference wins against Ohio and Miami (Ohio).

Schiano’s Scarlett Knights open their 2026 season Sept. 5, 2026, against UMass. He made $6.5 million this past season on a contract that has almost $24 million remaining in buyout-money per the USA Today Coaches’ Salary Database.Â