BEDMINSTER, N.J. — For Greg Schiano, the meaning of Sunday being Father’s Day is not lost on the Rutgers football head coach. It is especially meaningful these days for Schiano, as he sees many of his former players now embracing the role of being a father in their own lives.
Players who have suited-up for Schiano have consistently spoken of him as being not just a coach or a mentor or even a role model, but also being a father figure. The significance of seeing his first generation of players at Rutgers grow into fathers is not lost on Schiano when asked about it last week.
Speaking to the media during the Greg Schiano Charity Golf Classic, the Rutgers head coach was asked about Sunday being Father’s Day. In particular, what it meant to him to see so many of his former players from his first coaching stint at Rutgers now tackling the roles and responsibilities of being fathers themselves.
“It’s really cool,” Schiano said on Monday night.
Some of them have teenagers or later in the teens – like I’m recruiting their sons, which makes me feel a little bit funny. But now it’s really cool. And you know, you’ve got guys like Scotty Vaallone (former Rutgers defensive lineman, now an offensive assistant on the coaching staff) as a family..who’s on our staff. (that)I see that every day, right? I watch Andy Aurich (tight ends coach) who coached for us three times. And now he’s got three little kids.
“To me, that’s awesome. I have four of my own and you know, as I know, there’s no love like the one you have for your children. So to see my players and my staff and even myself have that opportunity is truly a blessing.”
Schiano’s annual golf outing benefited Chop4Change, Athletes in Action and the Robert E. “Bob” Mulcahy Football Scholarship Fund. It was held at Fiddler’s Elbow.
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