UMass is expected to hire Rutgers defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak as its next head football coach, sources told ESPN.

Harasymiak is expected to agree to a five-year deal worth between $1.3 and $1.4 million annually, according to sources.

Harasymiak has a history of helping win at difficult places, and he brings strong ties to the New England area from his time as the head coach at Maine, which he led to the FCS semifinals in 2018. He’s spent the past three years at Rutgers, including back-to-back bowl teams in 2023 and 2024.

Harasymiak comes to UMass at an intriguing time of transition, as it enters the MAC in 2025. The administration has dedicated significant funds to assuring better success as the school, which has not had a winning season since elevating football to FBS in 2012.

UMass will have nearly $2 million in NIL/revenue share for the 2025 season and $3 million for 2026, according to sources. Those numbers are guaranteed, according to sources, which means they don’t have to go out and fundraise.

Harasymiak will also have a staff pool of more than $2.7 million, according to sources, which projects to be the highest staff pool in the MAC by a significant amount.

In the 13 seasons since elevating to the FBS, UMass has never won five games and won four games just twice. Don Brown was fired after going 6-28 and Walt Bell went 2-23.

Harasymiak comes with a résumé that’s filled with difficult places to win — Maine, Minnesota and Rutgers. His time at Minnesota included a stint as the program’s co-defensive coordinator.

He has produced strong results at Rutgers, most notably a top-20 defense in 2023. He’s a New Jersey native who has twice been nominated for the Broyles Award.