How Rutgers coach Chris Ash may have helped Greg Schiano

EDITOR'S NOTE: Greg Schiano reportedly has agreed to terms to replace Rutgers-bound Chris Ash and become Ohio State's associate head coach and defensive coordinator, five days after this story originally ran.

PISCATAWAY - Just as the game of musical chairs was about to end with Greg Schiano having no seat, Chris Ash may have extended the song just a little bit longer.

Ash was hired Saturday to be the next Rutgers football coach — a job that Schiano held from 2001-11 and clearly did not want again despite being one of the most logical candidates.

Except that Schiano may have overplayed his hand by not being more receptive to reuniting with Rutgers and by reportedly passing on an offer from Central Florida to hold out for Miami.

Miami hired Mark Richt instead; UCF turned to Scott Frost after Schiano’s deadline to accept expired; and regional jobs at Maryland, Virginia and Syracuse were scooped up in rapid succession.

Suddenly, Schiano is looking at a third straight year out of coaching.

While his wallet may be getting fatter on behalf of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who fired him after two seasons, Schiano could be encroaching on Jim Fassel territory.

The former Giants coach went 58-53-1 with a Super Bowl appearance in seven seasons but never got a second shot at the helm and eventually got phased out of interview circles.

Schiano, who was 68-67 at Rutgers and 11-21 in the NFL, spent the 2014 season out of football before joining ESPN as a NFL analyst this season to help keep his name fresh.

It seemed like Schiano was a lock to find a job this offseason with so many vacancies that fit his background as a Northeast and Florida recruiter whose program’s academics would be just as much of a boasting point for the university as his 8-5 records.

The final stake came Sunday when South Carolina, where Schiano interviewed, hired its No. 3 choice, former Florida coach Will Muschamp, and still didn't turn to Rutgers former CEO. Among the other candidates, South Florida’s Willie Taggart withdrew, and Arizona’s Rich Rodriguez rejected an offer.

Even Taggart’s decision to stay put may have hurt Schiano, a Tampa-area resident.

So is he looking at another year on the outside?

Maybe not. And it’s because of Rutgers, after all.

Ash is leaving his post as defensive coordinator at Ohio State, and Schiano is regarded as a top-notch defensive play-caller.

The task-master has been his own boss since leaving his post as Miami’s defensive coordinator in 2000 to undertake the massive foundation-building at Rutgers.

But if Schiano’s ego would allow him to work for anyone else, only two names come to mind: New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Ohio State’s Urban Meyer.

Schiano’s friendships with both championship-winning coaches are well-documented, with Meyer visiting Rutgers during his sabbatical from coaching and then Schiano stopping by Columbus in 2014 as part of a national tour to learn some new coaching tricks.

Imagine the buzz Oct. 1 if, in addition to Ash leading Rutgers in Ohio Stadium for his homecoming, Schiano was the one calling the blitzes on the other sideline.

Meyer typically picks up-and-comers to be his coordinators and then asks for a two-year commitment. The pot of gold at the end of the road is the near-guarantee that you will graduate from his tutelage as one of the hottest names in the national assistant coach ranks.

But would Meyer do his respected friend a favor and help him get back into the locker room?

If not, Patriots fourth-year defensive coordinator Matt Patricia figures to be a candidate for some NFL head coach vacancies, so maybe it’s Belichick who helps Schiano get back on his feet.

Otherwise, Schiano may want to make sure he is comfortable in front of the television cameras for a while.

Staff Writer Ryan Dunleavy: rdunleavy@gannettnj.com