Drew Lascari enters his first season with the Jacksonville Jaguars as assistant defensive backs coach in 2025 and his first season coaching in the NFL. He spent the past seven seasons on the Rutgers football staff, most recently as safeties coach (2022-24).
In 2024, Lascari coached a safeties group that helped Rutgers to their second-consecutive winning season (7-6), their first time recording back-to-back seasons with a winning record since 2011-12. The Scarlet Knights finished sixth in the Big Ten in passes defensed (51) for the season. S Shaquan Loyal earned honorable mention All-Big Ten status as voted by the media, setting career highs in tackles (77), passes defensed (nine), tackles for loss, interceptions (two) and fumble recoveries (one).
The defense in 2023 helped Rutgers to its first winning season since 2014 and a victory in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. 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 ranked 10th nationally in pass defense (176.3). The Scarlet Knights limited 10 opponents to 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. 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. DB Flip Dixon earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition.
Lascari was promoted to safeties coach in 2022, as the defense improved by allowing 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. DB Christian Izien (84 tackles with five for loss) and DB Avery Young (84 tackles and five passes defended), both starting safeties, earned honorable mention All-Big Ten status, finished their careers with over 300 tackles and signed NFL contracts. Izien had interceptions in his first two games with Buccaneers in helping the team to the playoffs as a rookie.
Lascari served as a defensive assistant for two years (2020-21), seeing DB Tre Avery earn Third Team All-Big Ten (coaches and media) in 2020 and DB Kessawn Abraham be named First Team All-Big Ten by Pro Football Focus in 2021. Avery signed with the Tennessee Titans and played in 14 games with nine passes defended as a rookie.
Lascari took over as quarterbacks coach for the final eight games of the 2019 season. He first joined the Scarlet Knights in 2018 as special teams quality control coach.
Before heading to Rutgers, Lascari spent three seasons (2015-17) at the helm of the Cardinal Mooney varsity team in Sarasota, Florida. His job responsibilities included establishing the structure, core beliefs and goals for the football program. He organized all practices, game plan implementation and scheduling, while managing a staff of 15 coaches. He also oversaw the academic progress management for each student and designed the team's strength program. Lascari led a six-win improvement as the team went from 2-8 in year one to an 8-2 regular-season record in his second season.
Lascari began his coaching career at Don Bosco Prep (NJ), where he spent five seasons with the Ironmen. He served as the offensive coordinator during his tenure, including coaching the wide receiver and quarterback positions. He also handled duties as the team's NCAA placement coordinator and head strength coach. Lascari coached former Rutgers wide receiver, All-Big Ten selection and NFL draft pick WR Leonte Carroo at Don Bosco.
A native of Pequannock, N.J., Lascari graduated from Pequannock Township High School and later played football at SUNY Cortland, where he was a four-year letterwinner and Academic All-American. He earned a bachelor's degree in health science from SUNY Cortland and a master's degree in sports management at Columbia University. He and his wife, Ashlyn, have a daughter, Serena.
