A four-year letterwinner at defensive back for the Scarlet Knights (2008-11),
David Rowe is in his second season on staff and first as cornerbacks coach. He spent 2024 as RU’s assistant cornerbacks coach and started his coaching career under head coach Greg Schiano with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• As assistant cornerbacks coach in 2024, Rowe worked with DB 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, participated in the NFL Scouting Combine and was selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
• Also at the cornerback spot, both DB Eric Rogers (No. 4) and DB Bo Mascoe (No. 16) ranked in the top 20 of the Big Ten at their position by
Pro Football Focus. Rogers signed with the Los Angeles Chargers.
• 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 DB Isaiah Hamilton and DB A.J. Haulcy earn honorable mention All-Big 12 status in the secondary for the Cougars.
• DB Art Green and DB 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.
• Rowe coached CB Damarion Williams, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
• 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. DB 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 as secondary (2020) and cornerbacks (2019) 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.
• 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. Stephen Denmark, who transitioned to cornerback as a senior, was selected by the Chicago Bears in the 2019 NFL Draft.
• 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.
• Rowe is the son of Louise Rowe and James Rowe Jr. and his brother, James Rowe III, is the defensive pass game coordinator at USF.
Hometown: Cocoa, Fla.
Alma Mater: Rutgers, 2012
Wife: Corissa
2025-present: Rutgers (cornerbacks)
2024: Rutgers (assistant cornerbacks)
2022-23: Houston (secondary)
2021: Houston (cornerbacks)
2020: Central Michigan (secondary)
2019: 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)
