RU079.JPG

Scott Goodale

The winningest coach in program history with more than 200 career dual victories “On the Banks”, head coach Scott Goodale has made Rutgers wrestling into one of the top teams in the country since he took over the program on July 31, 2007.

With the help of assistant coach Joe Pollard, assistant coach Steve Mytych and assistant coach Mikey Labriola, the Scarlet Knights have produced two individual national champions, six individual conference titles, 19 All-Americans in the past nine seasons, multiple All-Americans at seven of the last eight NCAA Championships, and since 2009, have earned two top 10 finishes and 12 top 25 finishes in the final NWCA Division I Coaches Poll.

In 2023-24, Rutgers finished No. 14 in the final NWCA Coaches Poll and produced multiple All-Americans for the eighth time in nine seasons, as Dylan Shawver (133) and Yaraslau Slavikouski (HWT) finished seventh in their respective weight classes at the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Kansas City. Eight Scarlet Knights qualified for nationals, the most since all 10 starters qualified in 2016. RU also finished sixth at the 2024 Big Ten Wrestling Championships in College Park, Maryland, which included an individual title from Shawver, seven conference place winners and 87.5 team points - its best team result since 2016. Rutgers closed the dual season with a 12-5 mark, with its No. 14 final dual ranking its 12th top-25 finish during Goodale's tenure. Twelve student-athletes earned Winter Academic All-Big Ten recognition, while three individuals – Slavikouski, John Poznanski and Anthony White - were named NWCA Scholar All-Americans.

Under Goodale’s watch, RU has two individual national titles (Ashnault & Suriano in 2019), three national finalists, 19 All-Americans, six conference champions (five Big Ten, one EIWA), 102 NCAA Championship qualifiers, 49 Big Ten Conference Championships placewinners and 42 placewinners at the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Championships. The program has tallied an impressive 221-96-1 dual meet record during his 17 years “On the Banks.”
 
The success of Goodale’s teams has resulted in one of the top home environments in the sport. Competing inside Jersey Mike's Arena, the Scarlet Knights have finished within the top 10 in national attendance over the past eight seasons, which includes a 4,002 average in 2023-24. Rutgers drew more than 5,000 fans for three of its matches last season - vs. Ohio State (5,769), vs. Princeton (5,049) and vs. Virginia Tech (5,145).

The wrestling program also trains at one of the top practice facilities in the country – the RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center. Opened in 2019, the state-of-the-art facility lives right next to Jersey Mike's Arena and features three regulation practice mats, a 30-person team locker room and offices for coaches and support staff.

Success on the recruiting trail has been a hallmark of Goodale's tenure, as his staff signed the No. 4 overall recruiting class in the country, according to Intermat's final rankings. It marks the highest-rated rookie class under Goodale since he and his staff inked the No. 4 overall class during the 2007-08 cycle.

The Jackson, N.J., native took over the Rutgers program following an impressive seven-year stint as head coach at his alma mater, Jackson Memorial High School. In seven seasons, Goodale compiled an overall record of 155-16, leading his squad to the top ranking in the state in 2006 and 2007.

The legendary Jersey high school wrestling coach was inducted into the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame on Nov. 7, 2009.

Goodale was named the New Jersey State Coach of the Year three times, while also earning District 21 and Region VI Coach of the Year accolades three times during his tenure with the Jaguars. Goodale coached four New Jersey State Champions and five New Jersey State runner-ups, along with 16 additional state placewinners. In total, he has coached a total of 41 District 21 Champions and 10 Region VI Champions. Goodale led his teams to two Group IV State Championships, as well as four Central Jersey Group IV Sectional titles. Each season Goodale spent with Jackson Memorial, the Jaguars were crowned District 21 Team Champions, as well as winning four Class A-South Shore Conference titles. During the 2005-06 season, the Jaguars finished ranked No. 10 in the country. The following year, Goodale and the Jaguars improved that performance, finishing the year ranked seventh nationally. In every year Goodale was at Jackson Memorial, he led his team to a top-10 finish in the New Jersey wrestling polls.

Prior to being named head coach at Jackson Memorial, Goodale served as a top assistant for the wrestling program, while also working as the offensive coordinator for the football team. During his time with the Jaguars football squad, he was a part of three state championship teams.

On a national level, he spent 12 years as the Junior and Cadet State Team Coach for national wrestling tournaments held in Fargo, N.D. Following the 2005-06 season, he served as the head coach for Team New Jersey at the Junior National Duals.

Goodale wrestled for Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania, earning his bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education in 1995. He then went to New Jersey City University where he earned a certification in Special Education in 1997. As a collegiate wrestler, Goodale made three trips to the NCAA Championships, as well as placing second at the Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) Tournament twice in his career. During his time with the Bald Eagles, the team was ranked as high as ninth in the country. Goodale finished with 99 wins at Lock Haven. Goodale was inducted into the Lock Haven Athletics Hall of Fame in September of 2024.

Goodale and his wife Lisa are the parents of Shelby and Zach, and reside in Toms River. Shelby graduated from Rutgers in 2023 and competed on the university's dance team, while Zach is a student 'On the Banks'.