Johansen was given full autonomy to shape the defense, with head coach Greg Schiano calling him the “leader of the defense.” He has already added former South Dakota cornerbacks coach Eric Finney, former Drake head coach Joe Woodley, and former Drake defensive coordinator Adam Cox to his staff, with more hires expected soon.
Schiano expressed confidence in Johansen’s track record, saying the team is not broken but needs adjustments. He also praised Johansen’s emphasis on building personal relationships with players, a core value of Rutgers’ program.