In December 2007, The Star-Ledger reported that Schiano spoke with University of Michigan Athletic Director Bill Martin "for quite a while" on December 5 about the head coaching vacancy at the school. Two days later, he withdrew his name from consideration and remained as Rutgers' head coach. In 2008, after a bad start his Knights staged a come-from-behind season where they ended up 8–5 with the school's fourth straight bowl bid. Schiano's name once again came up in general speculation about the Miami head coaching position in 2010, after the firing of Randy Shannon.