Rutgers Head Coach Scott Goodale
The 2007-08 season marks the start of a new era in Rutgers wrestling. Scott Goodale takes over a Scarlet Knight program that was under the control of John Sacchi for the past seventeen seasons. Goodale has made waves nationally with a top notch recruiting class, keeping most of New Jersey's finest at home. Prior to taking the Rutgers wrestling position, Goodale led Jackson Memorial High School to a pair of Group IV State Championships, and was named New Jersey "Coach of the Year" three times.
D1CW: Coach, how would you say the team is doing at this point in the season?
Scott Goodale:We’re doing alright. We have been wrestling some good competition, as you see by the result of the match with Ohio State. The team has really been competing hard, and I am really pleased that they are in great wrestling shape. Again, the competition we face this semester is very tough. We will be away this Friday at Lehigh and then next weekend at Maryland. Overall, we are working hard to get where we will need to be. I’m also happy that the team has made the adjustment to me as the coach. I took over late in the summer and something like that can be tough on a team like ours that has a few 5th year seniors.
D1CW: Jumping from the high school coaching ranks to Rutgers, what has been the biggest obstacle you have faced or adjustment you have had to make?
SG: Well everywhere I’ve been we have won. So being patient is something I have had to learn to do. I really thought we would be closer to Ohio State the other night, but we lost 37-0. I expect us to win every time we step on the mat, I hold our guys accountable and they have come to expect that from me.
But as far as the actual training goes, there was no difference. Wrestling is wrestling and coaching is coaching, whether in high school or college.
D1CW: When you got the job at Rutgers, what is one thing that you thought was the most important to do or establish in order to be a successful program?
SG: The very first thing that needed to be addressed was the academics. The team was not doing a good job in that area at all. We were very low on the totem pole compared to the other programs at Rutgers.
The next thing was that we needed to be able to recruit well in-state.
Then I wanted the team, especially the older wrestlers to know that I am planning on winning now. It’s worked as (Steve) Adamscik and (Dan) Hilt, our veterans bought into it.
D1CW: Talk a little bit about your coaching staff….
SG: My first assistant is the big guy, John Leonardis. He wrestled at Blair Academy and then Lehigh where he won an EIWA title. He has been the head coach at The Peddie School in New Jersey and has also coached Junior National teams. Overall, he is a very experienced coach, with a great work ethic who also trains hard. He has been a huge asset in dealing with financial aid issues. He is very creative with financial aid because of his experience in that area from The Peddie School.
We also have Frankie Edgar. He is best known for being one of the best UFC fighters in the world. He has brought this program a lot of publicity. While Frankie just trains with us, he is able to show his incredible work ethic. He is a great role model for the team.
D1CW: While coming from the high school ranks is not viewed as the most conventional situation, it seems your experience coaching a New Jersey HS power and the Junior/Cadet teams has helped you in recruiting?
SG: Absolutely. Every kid that we have recruited, I have had a prior relationship with. I have had prior relationships with many of their coaches as well. This helps because they can know what to expect from me. Coaching the Junior/Cadet teams and going to Fargo has given me a good idea of the high school scene nationally, too.
D1CW: Sticking with the recruiting topic, if I am a high school recruit, why would I want to come to wrestle for Rutgers?
SG: It’s a real exciting time to be here. Right now is the start of something big. New Jersey is a great wrestling state and wrestlers have an opportunity to stay close to home. Another thing that has helped us is that all of our recruits this fall have previously wrestled with each other on teams in the summer. Scott Winston was the first to commit, and then the others followed him. In his case, Iowa and Oklahoma State were very interested in him, but the more he thought about it, the more he wanted to stay close to home.
D1CW: You now have your 141-LBS wrestler Steve Adamscik ranked in the top 20. Tell us more about him?
SG: He’s really a hard-nosed guy and loves to scrap. He really has benefited from working with Frankie Edgar. Steve has the mentality that when he steps on the mat he can compete with anyone. If he keeps improving and working hard he will have an opportunity to be an All-American this season.
D1CW: Has the recent success and interest in Rutgers football program carried over to the wrestling program?
SG: Certainly. Enrollment has been up; applications have increased by 70%. I am a huge college football fan, yet prior to taking this job I didn’t understand the impact it has on a recruit. The kids love coming to the games.
D1CW: Prior to your hiring, the Rutgers wrestling program was often called a “Sleeping Giant”. Where do you see the program in 5 years from now?
SG: Well the ultimate goal is a national title. However, I expect us to be able to go out and compete with the best teams in the nation. There’s no reason we shouldn’t be able to if we can keep the in-state talent and also pull in kids from the surrounding states like Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York. A reason I wanted to go out to Columbus (Ohio State dual) was so our kids could wrestle one of the best teams in the country and see what they need to work towards.
D1CW: Before we go, is there anything we should know about Rutgers?
SG: There is a big misconception, mainly around New Jersey than our administration does not support the team. That is absolutely false. They have already done a lot for us and are totally behind us.