Rutgers Announces New Five-Year Contract for Scott Goodale

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (June 1, 2011) – Rutgers Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tim Pernetti announced Wednesday that wrestling coach Scott Goodale has signed a new five-year contract. Goodale’s new contract begins July 1, 2011 and runs through June 30, 2016.

Goodale just completed his fourth season as head coach and has quickly positioned the Scarlet Knights as one of the nation’s top programs.

“Scott has done a phenomenal job in building our wrestling program into one of the nation’s best and we are thrilled to keep him in his home state,” said Pernetti. “The improvement and achievement of Rutgers Wrestling in the last few years has been dramatic and we look forward to watching the continued growth of the program under Scott’s leadership.”

During his four-year tenure, Goodale has built a foundation destined for national prominence. With an influx of home grown Jersey talent recruited to Rutgers, Goodale’s program has blossomed, as evidenced by a school-record crowd of 5,011 that witnessed two top-10 teams, the Scarlet Knights and Lehigh, square off at the RAC last February.

“I am extremely thankful and honored that the Administration, especially Director of Athletics Tim Pernetti, has the confidence in me to continue to lead this program,” said Goodale. “He has given this program every opportunity to be successful and more importantly wants to continue to see Rutgers wrestling reach the highest level of college wrestling.”

During Goodale’s reign as head coach, 20 RU wrestlers have earned NCAA bids and 22 Scarlet Knights have placed at the EIWA Championships. RU tallied an impressive 71-21-1 dual record during his first four years “On the Banks.”

In 2010-11, RU reached new heights as a program, finishing the year ranked No. 9 in the NWCA/USA Today Coaches Poll after posting a school record 21 victories against only two defeats.

Rutgers continued its strong season at the 107th EIWA Championships with a third-place showing, tying for the best finish in school history. Additionally, the Scarlet Knights saw nine wresters place at the EIWA Championships, including Scott Winston (Jackson, N.J.), who took home the 165-pound bracket crown to become the first RU wrestler to capture an EIWA championship since Tom Tanis in 2001.

By virtue of the strong EIWA and regular season, RU qualified a school-record tying eight individuals for the NCAA Championships.

A native of Jackson, N.J., Goodale 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 place-winners.

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.

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 and his wife Lisa are the parents of Shelby and Zachary, and reside in Toms River.

TRANSACTIONS: Rutgers announced a new five-year contract for wrestling coach Scott Goodale.

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