Jim Panagos is in his second season back as the Rutgers defensive line coach in 2021. The Long Island native previously worked on the Scarlet Knights’ staff from 2012-15.
• Rutgers gained 19 turnovers in 2020, most in a season since 2012, and 10 more than forced the previous season. That included at least one takeaway in eight games, multiple in four games and at least four two times. Helped the team establish a +5 turnover margin, its best in a Big Ten season.
• Rutgers led the Big Ten and ranked No. 11 nationally with 7.8 tackles-for-loss per game.
• Three RU defensive linemen earned honorable mention All-Big Ten: Michael Dwumfour (25 tackles), Julius Turner (11th in the Big Ten with eight tackles-for-loss) and Mike Tverdov (third in Big Ten with 10.5 tackles-for-loss, three sacks in win at Maryland).
• Panagos spent the 2019 season in the Big Ten as defensive line coach at Minnesota, where he helped the Gophers to a 10-2 record and berth to the Outback Bowl. Minnesota peaked as high as eighth in the College Football Playoff rankings.
• Prior to his time at Minnesota, he spent two seasons at Temple.
• While at Temple, he coached the defensive line and was elevated to assistant head coach in 2018. With the Owls, he was part of a staff that helped Temple rank among the top three nationally with eight defensive touchdowns (first), 31 forced turnovers (third) and 13 fumble recoveries (third). Temple was also one of the American Athletic Conference's top teams in total defense (second), passing defense (second), three-and-outs (second) and scoring defense (third) in 2018.
• Panagos was nominated for the Broyles Award (nation's top assistant coach) in 2017 after the Owls recorded 39 sacks and 92 tackles-for-loss.
• Prior to Temple, he was a defensive consultant at Pittsburgh in 2016.
• Panagos coached the defensive line at Rutgers from 2012-15.
• In 2012, Panagos made an immediate impact on the Scarlet Knights as the defensive unit finished fourth in the nation in scoring defense and 10th in total defense. The defensive line played a huge part in the scheme by cumulating 7.3 tackles-for-loss (16th ranked in the country) and holding opponents to 97.2 rushing yards per game (sixth). He also tutored DT Scott Vallone, who had a career-high 52 tackles and first-team All-Big East honors.
• Then in 2014, Panagos steered DT Darius Hamilton and DE Kemoko Turay, a second-round draft pick, to all-conference honors during the Scarlet Knights' transition into the Big Ten. Hamilton led the defense with 11.5 tackles-for-loss, including a career-best six sacks. Turay picked up a team-high 7.5 sacks, ranking eighth among Big Ten players. The Scarlet Knights won the Quick Lane Bowl following the season, also appearing in the 2012 Russell Athletic Bowl and 2013 New Era Pinstripe Bowl.
• Panagos also coached the defensive line at UCF from 2007-11. With the Knights, he was named the
FootballScoop National Defensive Line Coach of the Year in 2009 and helped coach the nation's No. 4-ranked defense in 2011.
• Panagos was with the Minnesota Vikings from 2002-05. He was a quality control assistant from 2002-04 and was a defensive line assistant in 2005.
• His career also included a four-year stop from 1994-97 at the C.R. James Alternative School in Tampa, Fla., where he was an assistant coach and taught mathematics.
• Panagos played defensive line at Maryland from 1989-92 and led the Terrapins with five sacks and 12 tackles for loss in 1992. He graduated in 1993 with a degree in criminal justice and then worked at his alma mater as a defensive line assistant that same year.
Hometown: East Islip, N.Y.
Alma Mater: Maryland, 1993 (criminal justice)
Wife: Maureen
Children: Daughter, Olivia; Sons, Jack and Hayden
2020-present: Rutgers (defensive line)
2019: Minnesota (defensive line)
2018: Temple (assistant head coach/defensive line/run game coordinator)
2017: Temple (defensive line)
2016: Pittsburgh (defensive consultant)
2012-15: Rutgers (defensive line)
2007-11: UCF (defensive line)
2005: Minnesota Vikings (assistant defensive line/assistant special teams)
2003-04: Minnesota Vikings (defensive quality control)
2002: Minnesota Vikings (offensive analyst/quality control)
1994-97: C.R. James (Fla.) Alternative School (assistant coach)
1993: Maryland (defensive line assistant)
