Greg Schiano's Rutgers staff getting new look

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Rutgers continued to restructure its football staff yesterday by adding two assistants while losing one -- with the strong possibility that two more coaching changes will occur before the start of spring practice.

According to someone with knowledge of the situation, wide receivers coach Robert Jackson and defensive line coach Cary Godette are both considering retirement.

The person requested anonymity because neither assistant has officially made a decision.

The latest changes saw Rutgers add Ed Pinkham as defensive assistant and Chris Rippon as the special teams coordinator, with running backs coach Craig Ver Steeg leaving to take a position as offensive quality control coach for the Baltimore Ravens.

Head coach Greg Schiano acknowledged that there may be additional changes to his staff, although he would not elaborate on what they would be.

"There may still be a little bit more," he said by phone from Syracuse, N.Y., where he was speaking at the New York state high school coaches' convention.

Pinkham, who hails from Clark, has spent the past 12 years as Colgate's defensive coordinator, earning a promotion to associate head coach as well in 2005.

Rippon, from Lincoln Park, spent the past three years as special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach at Mississippi. He spent 12 years as an assistant at Syracuse, serving as the defensive coordinator there from 1999-2003.

"Ed is a well-respected defensive coach. He brings another sharp mind to the defensive side," said Schiano, who will officially retain the title of defensive coordinator but may yield some of the responsibilities this season. "Chris has been a defensive coordinator and has been successful in the Big East and the SEC. He brings a wealth of experience."

Ver Steeg, who joined Rutgers staff in 2003, served as offensive coordinator from then until 2006. He was reassigned to the position of running backs coach last fall, with John McNulty elevated to the full-time role as offensive coordinator.

Ver Steeg's departure means Schiano has to fill the void of running backs coach as well.

The first domino for the staff changes started shortly after the International Bowl, when associate head coach Darren Rizzi left to become the head coach at Rhode Island, his alma mater. Rizzi also served as outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator.

On the scheduling front, North Carolina will visit Rutgers Stadium on Sept. 11 -- a Thursday night -- in a game that will be televised by ESPN, according to the ACC schedules released yesterday.

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