Staff Directory
Joe Pollard
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- Phone:
- 848-932-4015
A strong presence in the Rutgers wrestling room for more than a decade, Joe Pollard wrapped up his 15th season "On the Banks" and third as an assistant with the Scarlet Knights in 2025-26. During his tenure in Piscataway, Pollard has also served as a volunteer assistant coach and as the program's director of operations.
With the help of Pollard, Rutgers has produced two individual national champions, six individual conference titles, 19 All-Americans in the past 11 seasons and multiple All-Americans at seven of the last nine NCAA Championships.
With Pollard on staff, Rutgers finished No. 11 in the final NWCA Coaches Poll for the second consecutive season in 2025-26. The Scarlet Knights tallied a 14-5 dual record this past campaign, which included a 5-3 record in conference action to secure RU’s highest regular season Big Ten finish (T3rd) in program history.
All 10 starters went wire to wire ranked by Intermat during the regular season, while nine Scarlet Knights qualified for the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Cleveland. Rutgers was one of just eight programs in the country with nine or more participants at nationals.
Pollard has also been instrumental in RU's recruiting success, as the program signed a top 20 class in 2025-26 according to FloWrestling, which features Alex Bajoras, Charlie Esposito, Brandt Harer, CJ Huerta, Alex Reyes and Anthony Knox. Knox arrives ‘On the Banks’ as a four-time NJSIAA State Champion with an illustrious 144-1 scholastic record at Saint John Vianney.
Pollard joined the Scarlet Knights for the 2011-12 season after he spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at The College of New Jersey under legendary coach Dave Icenhower. While at TCNJ, Pollard helped the Lions reach new heights as 18 wrestlers earned All-America honors under Pollard’s tutelage. For his successes at TCNJ, Pollard was named NCAA Division III National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2007.
Prior to accepting the position at TCNJ, Pollard was a three-year varsity starter at Rider University. While at Rider, Pollard was a two-time Josh Hanson Award winner, given to the wrestler who demonstrates exceptional leadership, work ethic and academics.
A placewinner at the Prep Nationals as a student at the Peddie School, Pollard was a New Jersey State qualifier. A two-time first-team All-County selection, he was also a three-time County Champion and earned Most Outstanding Wrestler honors at the Mercer County tournament.
Pollard currently resides in Hamilton, New Jersey with his wife, Britt. They are the proud parents of their son, Duke, daughter, Mila, and son, Crew.
With the help of Pollard, Rutgers has produced two individual national champions, six individual conference titles, 19 All-Americans in the past 11 seasons and multiple All-Americans at seven of the last nine NCAA Championships.
With Pollard on staff, Rutgers finished No. 11 in the final NWCA Coaches Poll for the second consecutive season in 2025-26. The Scarlet Knights tallied a 14-5 dual record this past campaign, which included a 5-3 record in conference action to secure RU’s highest regular season Big Ten finish (T3rd) in program history.
All 10 starters went wire to wire ranked by Intermat during the regular season, while nine Scarlet Knights qualified for the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Cleveland. Rutgers was one of just eight programs in the country with nine or more participants at nationals.
Pollard has also been instrumental in RU's recruiting success, as the program signed a top 20 class in 2025-26 according to FloWrestling, which features Alex Bajoras, Charlie Esposito, Brandt Harer, CJ Huerta, Alex Reyes and Anthony Knox. Knox arrives ‘On the Banks’ as a four-time NJSIAA State Champion with an illustrious 144-1 scholastic record at Saint John Vianney.
Pollard joined the Scarlet Knights for the 2011-12 season after he spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at The College of New Jersey under legendary coach Dave Icenhower. While at TCNJ, Pollard helped the Lions reach new heights as 18 wrestlers earned All-America honors under Pollard’s tutelage. For his successes at TCNJ, Pollard was named NCAA Division III National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2007.
Prior to accepting the position at TCNJ, Pollard was a three-year varsity starter at Rider University. While at Rider, Pollard was a two-time Josh Hanson Award winner, given to the wrestler who demonstrates exceptional leadership, work ethic and academics.
A placewinner at the Prep Nationals as a student at the Peddie School, Pollard was a New Jersey State qualifier. A two-time first-team All-County selection, he was also a three-time County Champion and earned Most Outstanding Wrestler honors at the Mercer County tournament.
Pollard currently resides in Hamilton, New Jersey with his wife, Britt. They are the proud parents of their son, Duke, daughter, Mila, and son, Crew.
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