Rutgers Football Coach Schiano Names Rehab Room For Eric LeGrand

EDISON, NJ — This week, Rutgers head football coach Greg Schiano unveiled a $250,000 donation he and his wife made to name a spinal cord treatment room after former Rutgers University defensive tackle Eric LeGrand.

The special treatment room was unveiled Wednesday in a surprise ceremony for LeGrand.

The room is located at Hackensack Meridian's JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute, located on the campus of JFK University Medical Center in Edison.

LeGrand, who grew up in Avenel and still lives today in Woodbridge, suffered a devastating spinal cord injury during the 2010 college football season that left him paralyzed.

However, LeGrand never gave up and he today is a mentor, professional speaker and also businessman, as he just opened a coffeeshop by the Woodbridge train station last year, and is also embarking on a bourbon and beer line.

The room is called the Eric LeGrand Spinal Cord Injury Patient Care Room and was unveiled to LeGrand in a surprise ceremony June 14.

LeGrand's mother told ABC her son was "completely shocked" by the honor. Due to the nature of his injuries, he still uses the Edison rehab facility regularly, and she also told ABC the rehab center has "saved his life a couple of times over past two years."

Schiano, who grew up in Wyckoff, made the $250,000 donation with his wife, Christy. He is paid a yearly salary of $4 million from Rutgers University.

“Since his injury, Eric has worked tirelessly to make life better for others impacted by spinal cord injuries,” said Schiano. “Making this gift in his honor was our opportunity to do the same. We are so proud of Eric for all that he has achieved and know that he has come so far thanks to a dedicated spinal cord program. Our gift ensures that others have the same options afforded to them so that they can receive the best care possible and live their lives to the fullest.”

Schiano and LeGrand support each other, and the Rutgers head coach, along with Gov. Phil Murphy, attended the grand opening of LeGrand's coffeeshop last May.

“Coach Schiano and Eric LeGrand have such a special bond and we are so grateful to be the recipients of this generous gift by Greg and Christy, which will help us to continue delivering groundbreaking, compassionate care,’’ said Hackensack Meridian Health CEO Robert Garrett at Wednesday's unveiling.

According to the New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Research, approximately 6,000 New Jersey residents suffer from traumatic injuries or diseases that damage the spinal cord, with approximately 300 new injuries occurring each year.

The Spinal Cord Injury program at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute offers both inpatient and outpatient treatment, support services, technology and techniques to maximize recovery. Included in the Institute are two dedicated spinal cord injury treatment rooms that include a variety of tools and technologies in an accessible space, combined with the clinical expertise needed to treat spinal cord injuries.

The Institute also offers the ZeroG Gait and Balance System, a robotic apparatus that supports a patient’s weight during therapy to assist in walking while preventing falls.

Murphy, Rutgers Head Coach Schiano In Woodbridge For LeGrand Coffee (May 2022)