High-profile football coaches are defending Greg Schiano after the University of Tennessee took back an offer to make him its football coach.

Students at the university protested against Schiano becoming the coach because of his connection to convicted child molester Jerry Sandusky.

Schiano coached at Penn State in the early '90s under Sandusky, but denies knowing Sandusky was a predator.

Allegations against Schiano stemmed from Mike McQueary, a star witness in the scandal. McQueary testified that he heard from another coach, Tom Bradley, that Schiano said he saw Sandusky abuse a child. Bradley has denied saying that.

Schiano has New Jersey roots. He attended Ramapo High School and later coached at Rutgers.

Schiano's current boss at Ohio State, Urban Meyer, had nothing but positive things to say about Schiano.

"He's an elite person, elite father, elite husband, elite friend and elite football coach," Meyer says. "I stand by my coach."

Bill Belichick also defended Schiano Monday.

Schiano has not yet commented on the matter.