Four-time NJSIAA placewinner and former University of North Carolina wrestler Kyle Kiss begins his fourth season with Rutgers wrestling and third as the team's volunteer assistant coach in 2022-23.
Kiss has been instrumental in the Scarlet Knights' rich recruiting profile nationally, as RU secured the No. 8 signing class in the country - according to MatScouts - ahead of the 2022-23 campaign. The impressive group includes state champions PJ Casale, Brandan Chletsos, Joe Fongaro and Brian Soldano, as well as highly-rated signees Eric Freeman and Luke Gayer. Kiss also helped bring 2022 All-American Greg Bulsak to Piscataway after his standout career at Clarion.
With Kiss on staff, the Scarlet Knights finished the 2021-22 campaign with two All-Americans for the seventh consecutive season, their most dual wins (16) since the 2012-13 season and their highest final ranking in the final NWCA Coaches Poll (14) since 2017.
Prior to his arrival "On the Banks", Kiss served as an assistant coach at Clarion from 2015-19, where he led the Golden Eagles' recruiting efforts under head coach Keith Ferraro. Clarion produced 10 NCAA qualifiers during Kiss' time with the program, including four during the 2017-18 campaign. With the help of Kiss, the Golden Eagles sent two or more wrestlers to nationals in each of the past four seasons.
Prior to his arrival at Clarion, Kiss served as an assistant at North Carolina during the 2014-15 season. While at UNC, Kiss worked closely with the middle weights and coached five national qualifiers, including All-American 165-pounder Ethan Ramos.
Kiss enjoyed a successful collegiate career wrestling at North Carolina from 2007-11, where he compiled 70 victories during his time in Chapel Hill. A three-time ACC placewinner, Kiss muscled 22 victories as a junior in 2009-10 and added 19 wins during his senior season in 2010-11.
A native of Loch Arbour, New Jersey and a 2007 graduate of Ocean Township, Kiss was a four-time NJSIAA placewinner. He was a two-time Beast of the East finalist and was also a state finalist as a senior.
