Rutgers' Schiano opts to stay in New Jersey, spurns Michigan

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Luring Greg Schiano away from Rutgers is proving to be very difficult, even for some of college football's most powerful programs.

Rutgers coach Greg Schiano decides to remove his name from consideration for the Michigan job. (Getty Images)

The University of Miami couldn't swing the deal last year with a potential $2 million contract and Michigan failed to entice Schiano to one of the nation's most prestigious jobs after a two-day courtship this week.

Schiano's latest decision left the Wolverines 0-for-2 in their bid to find a successor to Lloyd Carr, who announced his retirement last month after 13 seasons. LSU's Les Miles, a former Michigan player and assistant, rejected overtures to return to Ann Arbor last Saturday.

"I was contacted earlier this week about the Michigan coaching vacancy, but I have decided to remove my name from consideration," Schiano said Friday in a statement. "I look forward to our third straight bowl game and to bringing a national championship to Rutgers and the state of New Jersey. I will have no further comment."

An exhausted Schiano addressed his players at 7 a.m. Friday to inform them of his decision.

"The University of Miami and the University of Michigan came calling, and he's still our football coach," quarterback Mike Teel said several hours later. "I don't think we have much to worry about.

"If you don't go to Michigan as a head football coach, with the tradition and everything that they have, the Big House in Ann Arbor -- if you don't take that as a football coach, you're at the spot where you want to be," Teel said. "This is where he wants to be."

Schiano orchestrated one of the most impressive turnarounds in college football during his seven seasons at the State University of New Jersey. He took over one of the worst major college programs and has led it to three straight bowl appearances.

While this year's 7-5 record was a disappointment after starting the season ranked No. 16, the Scarlet Knights have accepted a bid to play at the International Bowl against Ball State on Jan. 6.

Gov. Jon Corzine and Rutgers athletic director Robert E. Mulcahy were thrilled Schiano once again decided he had unfinished business in his home state.

"I think it's a really good thing for Rutgers," Corzine said during a Statehouse news conference in Trenton.

Mulcahy looked to the future.

"He has accomplished so much in his time here, and I know that he believes there is much more ahead of us," Mulcahy said in a statement. "Under his direction, Rutgers football will continue to move forward as one of the nation's elite programs."