Football Welcomes Hall & Rowe to Staff

“Vic and David are both great fits for our staff,” Schiano said. “I am confident their expertise will elevate our secondary both on and off the field.”

VIC HALL

Hall joins the Scarlet Knights after working as a defensive analyst last season at Penn State. The Gretna, Virginia, native previously spent three seasons at Ball State (2021-23) and brings experience from time at Hampton (2020), Howard (2019), Western Illinois (2018) and National Collegiate Prep (2014-18).

On the same staff as co-defensive coordinator Robb Smith in 2024, Hall focused on cornerbacks for a Nittany Lion team that appeared in the Big Ten Championship Game and won two games in the College Football Playoff. A.J. Harris earned Third Team All-Big Ten in both the coaches and media voting, rating as the No. 7 cornerback in the Big Ten by Pro Football Focus.

Hall earned a promotion to passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2023 for Ball State. The defense improved as the season progressed, holding opponents to 15.2 points per game over the last six games. As cornerbacks coach the two years prior, Hall helped the Cardinals tally a combined 22 interceptions, the second-best total in the MAC. The 2021 team finished third in the conference in scoring defense during league play (24.0) and earned a berth to the Camellia Bowl.

In previous experience, Hall helped Western Illinois rank in the top 25 of the FCS in total defense in 2018. He then moved on to Howard in 2019 and Hampton in 2020. Hall began his coaching career at National Collegiate Prep in Washington, D.C., serving in various roles including quarterbacks coach, wide receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator.

Hall earned a bachelor’s degree from Virginia in 2009. He was primarily a cornerback for the Cavaliers, also seeing action returning kicks and at quarterback and wide receiver. Hall also made his professional mark in the Arena Football League, setting a league record with 15 interceptions in 2011 for the Chicago Rush on his way to AFL Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Personal

Hometown: Gretna, Va.

Alma Mater: Virginia, 2009

Wife: Chandell

Children: Daughters, Ce’Niya and Cambri

Coaching History

2025-present: Rutgers (safeties)

2024: Penn State (defensive analyst)

2023: Ball State (passing game coordinator/defensive backs)

2021-22: Ball State (cornerbacks/co-recruiting coordinator)

2020: Hampton (safeties)

2019: Howard (cornerbacks)

2018: Western Illinois (graduate assistant, cornerbacks)

2014-18: National Collegiate Prep (assistant)

DAVID ROWE

A four-year letterwinner at defensive back for the Scarlet Knights (2008-11), Rowe spent last season as RU’s assistant cornerbacks coach and started his coaching career under Schiano with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

As assistant cornerbacks coach in 2024, Rowe worked with Robert Longerbeam, who finished third among rostered 2024 FBS players with 42 career passes defended (37 breakups, five interceptions). He was voted honorable mention All-Big Ten and is set to head to the NFL Scouting Combine. Also at the cornerback spot, both Eric Rogers (No. 4) and Bo Mascoe (No. 16) ranked in the top 20 of the Big Ten at their position by Pro Football Focus last season.

Prior to returning to Rutgers, Rowe spent three seasons on the Houston staff as secondary (2022-23) and cornerbacks (2021) coach during the program’s transition to the Big 12. The 2023 campaign saw both Isaiah Hamilton and A.J. Haulcy earn honorable mention All-Big 12 status as defensive backs for the Cougars. Art Green and Gervarrius Owens each merited all-conference honors in the American Athletic Conference in 2022, as Owens graded out as the league’s top safety and top cover safety according to Pro Football Focus. The team won the 2022 Independence Bowl over Louisiana-Lafayette.

In 2021, Houston finished eighth nationally limiting opponents to a 55.2 completion percentage and 18th in passing yards allowed per game (194.0) on the way to a win over Auburn in the Birmingham Bowl. Marcus Jones, the Paul Hornung Award Winner and an all-conference performer, recorded five interceptions, which led the AAC and ranked fourth nationally.

Rowe spent the previous two seasons at Central Michigan (2019-20) as the cornerbacks coach. The 2019 season saw the secondary record 12 interceptions to help the Chippewas to a seven-win improvement from the previous season, a MAC West Division title and appearances in the MAC Championship Game and New Mexico Bowl. In 2020, CMU ranked second in the MAC with eight interceptions during the pandemic-shortened season.

Before arriving at Central Michigan, Rowe served as the defensive backs coach at Valdosta State (2017-18), helping the Blazers to a 14-0 record, the NCAA Division II National Championship and the Gulf South Conference title in 2018. Rowe’s group ranked eighth in Division II in interceptions and ninth in red zone defense that season.

Rowe started his coaching career with the Buccaneers in 2013 before moving on to Western Michigan (2014) as a graduate assistant and Rockledge (Fla.) High School (2015-16) as defensive coordinator.

As a three-year starter for the Scarlet Knights at both cornerback and safety, Rowe played in 51 games, including wins in the PapaJohns.com, St. Petersburg and New Era Pinstripe Bowls. The Florida native totaled 156 tackles with five interceptions, 16 pass breakups, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Rowe earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Rutgers in 2012.

Personal

Hometown: Cocoa, Fla.

Alma Mater: Rutgers, 2012

Wife: Corissa

Coaching History

2025-present: Rutgers (cornerbacks)

2024: Rutgers (assistant cornerbacks)

2022-23: Houston (secondary)

2021: Houston (cornerbacks)

2019-20: Central Michigan (cornerbacks)

2017-18: Valdosta State (defensive backs)

2015-16: Rockledge (Fla.) HS (defensive coordinator)

2014: Western Michigan (graduate assistant)

2013: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (defensive assistant)

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