Rutgers football is finally closing the book on its long defensive coordinator search, with South Dakota head coach Travis Johansen set to become the Scarlet Knights’ next defensive coordinator, multiple sources reported Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. The move, first confirmed by On3’s Pete Nakos, indicates Rutgers is finalizing a deal to bring Johansen to Piscataway.
The hiring comes after a long and widely discussed search, which followed the firing of co-defensive coordinators Robb Smith and Zach Sparber after Rutgers’ defense struggled mightily during the 2025 season. Rutgers was abysmal defensively, but one particular statistic that highlights it was that the Knights allowed an FBS-worst 7.6 yards per play, which is more than three-quarters of the way to a first down.
Advertisement
Who is Travis Johansen?
Johansen, currently the head coach at the University of South Dakota, had never before been a defensive coordinator at the FBS level. But he brings more than a decade of experience directing college defenses. level. jOhansen spent six years with South Dakota before becoming head coach, including several seasons as the Coyotes’ defensive coordinator.
In 2025, Johansen led the Coyotes to a 10-5 record and an appearance in the NCAA FCS quarterfinals, a good finish for the program. Previous stops include defensive coordinator roles at Grand View University (Iowa) in the NAIA and DII Concordia-St. Paul (MN), where he played college football, before leading the Coyotes to become a top-five defense in the FCS.
What this means for Rutgers
Greg Schiano has emphasized finding a leader who can revive the defense, calling for a coordinator capable of directing the unit and leading the players autonomously. Johansen’s track record in defensive organization and player development was likely a key factor in the decision.
Advertisement
The Scarlet Knights’ defense finished near the bottom of the Big Ten in several major statistical categories in 2025, intensifying fan and media scrutiny of the coordinator search.
The addition of Johansen signals that Rutgers is investing outside the traditional group of Power Five assistants, confident in his upward trajectory and his ability to adapt to FBS competition. It also ends what became one of the most talked about offseason training sagas in college football, as Rutgers fans and insiders waited more than two months for clarity.
Looking to the future
Official confirmation from Rutgers should follow once formalities are completed. Once signed, Johansen will be tasked with overhauling a unit that struggled mightily last season, improving defensive execution and ultimately helping the Scarlet Knights become more competitive within the Big Ten.
Advertisement
For a program eager to bounce back defensively, this hiring could mark a critical turning point for Rutgers football, which struggled through a historically poor defense last season under Robb Smith and Zach Sparber. With the offensive side of the ball looking as good as it has in at least a decade, the hiring of Johansen will look to help restore the Scarlet Knights to the defensive prowess the program is accustomed to under Greg Schiano.
To support me and my work, follow @arnavsarkar100 on X!