Rutgers Targeting South Dakota Head Coach Travis Johansen for Defensive Coordinator

Rutgers is reportedly targeting South Dakota head coach Travis Johansen to become the next defensive coordinator under head coach Greg Schiano. Johansen, who led a top-five defensive unit in the FCS as South Dakota's defensive coordinator in 2024, was promoted to head coach and guided the Coyotes to the FCS quarterfinals in 2025, finishing No. 11 nationally. Despite lacking FBS coaching experience, Johansen brings 14 years of experience as a defensive coordinator, with previous roles at Concordia-St. Paul and Grand View before joining South Dakota in 2019. This move comes as Johansen is set to replace Robb Smith, who, along with several other defensive staff members, was dismissed after Rutgers ended the season with a 5-7 record.