Former Rutgers Lineman, Assistant Coach Passes Away
Dec 10 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Former Rutgers football player and assistant coach James J. (Jim) Taiga passed away on Friday, Dec. 7, at Ocean Medical Center in Brick. He was 82.
Taigia played for the Scarlet Knights as a two-way lineman in 1948-50 under head coach Harvey Harman. Taigia was an offensive line coach under head coaches John Bateman and Frank Burns from 1968-1982.
Taigia served in the Navy as a chief petty officer before enrolling at Rutgers. He received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers in 1950, and his masters in education in 1954. Prior to joining the Rutgers football coaching staff in 1968, he was a teacher and coached football at Rahway HS, Piscataway HS and Hillside HS.
As a two-way guard for the Scarlet Knights, "Chief" helped the team compile an impressive 21-6 record in his three seasons on the varsity, including 8-1 in 1947. The 1948 team went 7-2 and was captained by Burns, who Taigia later coached with.
As an assistant coach, Taigia played a key role in teams that compiled a 105-56-1 mark n 15 years. Rutgers posted winning records in 11 of those 15 seasons, including an 11-0 mark and a No. 17 national ranking in 1976. Taigia's offensive line helped pave the way for 287 points that season.
Relatives and friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Dec, 10, at the Quackenboss Funeral Home, 156 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Dec. 11 at the funeral home, followed by burial at Elmwood Cemetery, North Brunswick.
