Rutger’s Asst. CH. John Leonardis is ready for the Campaign, Talks to TDR TV

Posted on | September 22, 2010 | 2 Comments

John Leonardis has been with Rutgers head coach Scott Goodale since his first day “On the Banks” and has played a vital role in the resurgence of the program.

He helped guide the Scarlet Knights to a 50-19-1 record during his three years at RU. Leonardis helped make an immediate impact on the recruiting trail as their first recruiting class was ranked nationally by W.I.N. Magazine (No. 3) and InterMat (No. 4).

During Leonardis’ tenure, 12 RU wrestlers have earned NCAA bids and 14 Scarlet Knights have placed at the EIWA Championships.

Last season, Leonardis helped Rutgers to a No. 22 finish in the final 2009-10 NWCA/USA Today Division I Team Coaches Poll after posting a 19-5-1 record. Seven Scarlet Knights earned NCAA bids, the most since 1960. The No. 22 ranking is the highest in school history.

The Scarlet Knights put together a 15-match unbeaten streak from early December to late February which was the longest streak in school history.

Leonardis was a three year varsity wrestling letter winner at Lehigh before graduating in 1997. He was an EIWA Champion in 1996 in the 190-pound weight class. The Sea Girt, N.J. native played football and wrestled for Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J. His senior year he was a captain for both wrestling and football, leading each program to a State Championship during his wrestling career.

Leonardis was a four-time National Prep place winner and champion and an Amateur Wrestling News All-American. On the coaching front, Leonardis has extensive experience. For six years (2000-06), he compiled a .720 winning percentage as the head coach at Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J. Leonardis-coached teams placed in the top-five of the National Prep Championships five times. He coached 32 National Prep Place winners and four Junior National All-Americans.

The fourth-year assistant coach also worked as the New Jersey Wrestling Federation Coach from 1997 to 2007, receiving Coach of the Year honors three times from the Trenton Times. He personally trained three Junior National champions, two NCAA Division I National Champions and multiple All-Americans.