Ashnault’s return considered one of the best off-season hires

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 23: Anthony Ashnault of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights is introduced during the championship finals of the NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 23, 2019 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | Getty Images

On3’s Nick Kosko offered his assessment of the top coaching hires of this off-season. In that post, Kosko put Anthony Ashnault’s return to Rutgers at the number 5 hire across the country.

Per the post, now that he’s back in Piscataway, Ashnault “should aid the elite New Jersey recruiting efforts and be quite the training partner for the light and middleweights in the room.”

Ashnault became the face of RU Wrestling while “On the Banks”, and created an electricity at the then-RAC during his four years. His 124-19 record, four All American recognitions, three Big Ten titles, and his 2019 National Championship put him in a unique place at Rutgers.

When he was hired back in April, head coach Scott Goodale said, “Anthony has established himself as one of the top young coaches in the country, and I could not be more excited to welcome him back home on staff. As the program’s all-time wins leader and one of our first national champions, Anthony will be able to show recruits they can win right here at Rutgers and help us take this program to the next level. We’re thrilled to have him back in our room where he belongs.”

There were more than a few Scarlet fans who bemoaned the loss of Assistant Coach Donny Pritzlaff, who left for the head job at Columbia. Pritzlaff was named the Ivy League Coach of the Year in 2026, a fact that reinforced Rutgers fans’ dismay over losing him. Ashnault’s return should ease some of that angst, especially if he can bring success with him.