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With an 11-7 overall record, a 5-3 mark in Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) action and two wrestlers reaching the NCAA Championships, Scott Goodale’s first season as head coach of the Rutgers wrestling program was truly a successful one. But not content with merely a winning season, Goodale has put the program on track to be good for years to come, with a recruiting class ranked nationally by W.I.N. Magazine (No. 3) and InterMat (No. 4).
The 2007-08 campaign began with successful showings in the Oklahoma Brockport-Gold Tournament and the Navy Classic, before the squad started its dual part of the schedule. After losses at No. 15 Ohio State, Lehigh and No. 23 Maryland, the team found its groove, giving Goodale his first collegiate dual victory with a 42-0 win over Wagner at the College Ave. Gym. RU went on to win four of its next five matches before dropping a tightly contested 27-10 match to Army.
The Scarlet Knights continued to wrestle well, winning five consecutive matches and seven of its next nine to finish with a record of 11-7. Steve Adamcsik and Lamar Brown wrestled into the second day of the EIWA Tournament, as Brown took second place at 197-pounds, giving him an automatic berth to the NCAA Wrestling Championships in St. Louis, Mo. Adamcsik finished sixth at 141 and earned a wild card spot in the NCAA Wrestling Championships, marking the first time since 2004-05 that two RU wrestlers reached the prestigious tournament.
Goodale’s first recruiting class included InterMat’s No. 2 overall senior recruit in Scott Winston, InterMat’s 17th-best recruit in Trevor Melde and USA Wrestling’s 19th-best 171-pound wrestler in Dan Rinaldi.
Goodale was a three-time New Jersey “Coach of the Year” at Jackson Memorial High School in Jackson, N.J., before becoming the sixth coach in Rutgers wrestling history.
“I have such a passion for New Jersey wrestling,” Goodale said. “It's going to be a challenge, but I'm up for the challenge. We are going to try and take this team to the next level.”
Goodale will follow in the footsteps of Rutgers winningest coach in wrestling history, John Sacchi. Sacchi retired in 2007 following 17 seasons at the head of the Scarlet Knight program, and 40 years as a wrestling coach. Sacchi compiled a 167-102-5 record at Rutgers.
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.
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 bettered 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 has spent the last 11 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, and his wife Lisa, are the parents of Shelby and Zachary, and reside in Toms River. |
