Joseph Mortarulo, who has made his mark on the soccer landscape at all levels of competition - high school, collegiate, professional and international - enters his seventh season in 2024 on Jim McElderry’s Rutgers men’s soccer staff as an assistant coach.
In 2025, Mortarulo helped lead the Scarlet Knights in an exciting campaign, picking up two top-10 wins for just the second time in program history, over No. 8 Wisconsin (3-1) and No. 10 Maryland (3-1). Joey Zalinsky (37th overall) and Nick Collins (85th overall) were chosen in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, continuing a long line for professional success for the program. Curt Calov, who was named to the All-Big Ten second team, was also signed to a professional contract after the draft with Minnesota United FC.
In the fall of 2023, Mortarulo helped McElderry lead the team to a 5-8-3 record, picking up three Big Ten wins along the way. The slate was highlighted by a marquee win on the road over Maryland, 2-1, for the program's first-ever win at on the road at Ludwig Field since the teams first met in 1960.
Mortarulo saw Jackson Temple pace the squad in goals (6), assists (4) and points 916) in his fifth season. Temple was named an All-Big Ten First Team selection while Matt Acosta followed with an All-Big Ten Second Team pick as well as Nick Collins as he earned a spot on the conference All-Freshman Team. Ola Maeland also brought some hardware back “On The Banks” as he was named to the 2023 Big Ten All-Tournament Team, scoring in the Quarterfinals against Penn State.
During the fall of 2022, Mortarulo helped the Scarlet Knights make history, capturing the first Big Ten Championship in program history and first conference title since 1997 with a 3-1 win over Indiana. RU secured the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, the highest in program history and hosted all three rounds, bringing in record crowds (4,200+ for the title game). The championship win punched Rutgers' ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015 for the first trip under head coach Jim McElderry.
Mortarulo, along with the rest of the Scarlet Knights staff, was also named the United Soccer Coaches North Region Staff of the Year, the first staff award in program history.
During his nine-year professional playing career, Mortarulo played for the New Jersey Imperials (‘92-’94), New York Fever (’95 –’96) alongside Coach McElderry, the Staten Island Vipers (’97 – ’99) and the Puerto Rican National Team (’93 –’96).
Mortarulo started his collegiate playing career “On the Banks” for the Scarlet Knights in 1988 before transferring to Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck. A three-year starter & team captain for the FDU Knights, he earned Mid-Atlantic All-American stature in 1992.
Returning to his high school alma mater, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, as an assistant coach in 1994, Mortarulo has helped guide the men’s soccer program to be one of the top public high school teams in the nation year in and year out. During his 25-year coaching tenure, he has lead his teams to five state titles, 10 county championships, 16 sectional titles and 20 conference titles. Mortarulo was the NSCAA Northeast Assistant Coach of the Year, as well as a NSCAA National Assistant Coach of the Year finalist in 2009.
Mortarulo currently holds a USSF “A” license. He lives in Scotch Plains with his wife Jennifer and three children: Daniel, Mia and Lyla.
