Joe Harasymiak (hare-uh-SIM-ee-ack) is in his third season as the Rutgers football defensive coordinator in 2024. A native of Waldwick, New Jersey, Harasymiak also leads the linebackers and has been a nominee for the Broyles Award each of the past two seasons. The Scarlet Knights have improved by 83 yards per game since he joined the staff. He previously served two seasons as co-defensive coordinator at Minnesota and as head coach at Maine.
• In 2024, Harasymiak took over coaching linebackers in addition to defensive coordinator responsibilities.
• The 2023 defense continued to make strides on the way to helping Rutgers secure its first winning season since 2014 and a victory in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. Harasymiak earned a spot as a nominee for the Broyles Award, an honor bestowed to college football's top assistant coaches, for the second consecutive year.
• The unit ranked 16th nationally in total defense (313.5), posting its best mark and ranking for a season in the Big Ten era and best since 2012, holding five opponents under 300 yards. RU limited 10 opponents under 30 points, five under 20 points and three in single digits to rank No. 32 nationally in scoring defense (21.2). In addition, Rutgers ranked 10th nationally in passing defense (176.3) and 15th in red zone defense (75.6 percent), posting 11 stops, while its rushing defense mark of 137.2 was the best for the team in the Big Ten era.
• In Big Ten play, Rutgers posted its best marks for total defense (337.9) and scoring defense (25.1) in a conference season since joining the league. According to the
Pro Football Focus Big Ten rankings, LB Mohamed Toure graded as the No. 7 linebacker in the league, DB Max Melton as the No. 11 cornerback, DL Aaron Lewis as the No. 12 edge defender and DB Flip Dixon as the No. 12 safety, as seven players from all three levels of the defense were honored in the All-Big Ten voting. Melton was drafted in the second round by the Cardinals, the highest pick from RU since 2010, while LB Deion Jennings and DL Isaiah Iton also signed NFL contracts.
• In 2022, Harasymiak claimed honors from the Broyles Award for the first time. Statistically, the unit allowed 46.7 less yards per game compared to 2021, 28.1 less passing yards and 18.6 less rushing yards. The Scarlet Knights posted their best mark in total defense (349.8) in 10 years at the time. The defense had eight players make multiple starts after entering the season with four or less career starts previously.
• RU had seven defenders recognized in the All-Big Ten voting, led by defensive lineman Aaron Lewis collecting third-team honors. DB Christian Braswell was selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft as one of four players from the defense to sign a contract.
• Harasymiak joined the Golden Gophers for the 2018 Quick Lane Bowl and spent the next three full seasons in Minneapolis.
• In 2021, Minnesota ranked third in the nation in total defense (278.8), fourth in first downs defense (202), sixth in scoring defense (17.3), eighth in rushing defense (97.5) and ninth in passing yards allowed (181.2). The Golden Gophers held eight-straight opponents, and 10 of the last 11, below their total offensive average entering the game. That included limiting West Virginia to 206 yards and six points in a win in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. The unit saw five players recognized in the All-Big Ten voting.
• In 2019, Harasymiak mentored S Antoine Winfield Jr., S Jordan Howden and S Chris Williamson. Winfield led Minnesota with 88 tackles and named a unanimous All-American and Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year. Howden and Williamson finished tied for fourth on the team with 57 tackles and each produced critical interceptions during the season. The Gophers ended the year with 14 interceptions, which ranked second in the Big Ten. Winfield Jr. went on to be drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and earned a spot in the Pro Bowl.
• Harasymiak served as head coach at Maine from 2016-18. He guided the Black Bears to an overall record of 20-15 and a 15-9 mark in the Colonial Athletic Association.
• In 2018, Harasymiak led the Black Bears to a 10-4 overall record, a 7-1 conference mark and a CAA championship. Maine advanced to its first Football Championship Subdivision national semifinal in school history under his guidance. Harasymiak earned FCS Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.
• Harasymiak previously served as defensive assistant and defensive backs coach at Maine in 2011 and then coached the defensive backs from 2012-13. He was promoted to defensive coordinator and coached the linebackers from 2014-15. Harasymiak was named interim head coach in Nov. 2015 and assumed head coaching duties in Jan. 2016.
• Prior to his time at Maine, Harasymiak served as a graduate assistant coach with the wide receivers and quarterbacks at his alma mater, Springfield College. He was also an assistant coach at Maine Maritime Academy in 2008.
• Harasymiak earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Springfield College in 2008 and played for the Pride from 2004-07. He served as team captain in 2007.
Hometown: Waldwick, N.J.
Alma Mater: Springfield College, 2008
Wife: Brittany
Children: Daughters, Sophie and Ellie
2024-present: Rutgers (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
2022-23: Rutgers (defensive coordinator)
2020-21: Minnesota (co-defensive coordinator)
2018-19: Minnesota (defensive backs/safeties)
2016-18: Maine (head coach)
2014-15: Maine (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
2012-13: Maine (defensive backs)
2011: Maine (defensive assistant/defensive backs)
2009-10: Springfield College (graduate assistant/wide receivers/quarterbacks)
2008: Maine Maritime Academy (assistant coach)
