Nunzio Campanile Announced as Rutgers Interim HC, Search Begins

Nunzio Campanile was introduced as the interim head coach of Rutgers Football on Monday afternoon.

Rutgers fired head coach Chris Ash on Sunday after a 8-32 career record at the helm.

He did not make it through his fourth season as head coach. In his place will be Campanile, a former head coach of Bergen Catholic High School, a perennial state power in New Jersey. It came as a surprise considering offensive coordinator John McNulty was in his second stint at Rutgers and would've been a prime candidate to take over in the interim and possibly remain as OC in the event former head coach Greg Schiano would return.

I discussed my thoughts on the state of the program the other day on the "College Football Countdown to Kickoff" and you can listen below:

Campanile addressed the media on Monday afternoon about his new role and as the Scarlet Knights prepare for Maryland at home on Saturday.

"I want to start by thanking Coach Ash for the opportunity to coach here," Campanile said. "I want to thank Pat Hobbs for the opportunity and I want to make sure we give our players the chance to be successful."

"I'm a guy from New Jersey and loves New Jersey, so I am really excited to represent Rutgers University," Campanile said. "You have to hit the ground running. It's been a tough day for everyone but the coaches and players have been really supportive."

The entire press conference is available below via the Rutgers Athletics Twitter page:

Athletic Director Pat Hobbs released a statement on Sunday as well after Ash was dismissed. The coaching search is expected to take place immediately. Perhaps Rutgers would have a jump start on candidates; at least ones that are not currently employed by another program.

"We appreciate Chris’s dedicated efforts on behalf of our football program, our department and our university,” Hobbs said. "This change is especially difficult because of the steadfast commitment that Chris and his family have made to our student-athletes. "Progress has been achieved in many areas, but, unfortunately, that progress has not been realized on the field of play. As such, it is in the best interest of the program to make a change.''

Hobbs also spoke to the media on Monday afternoon and you can view his presser in it's entirety here:

Ash also released a statement on his Twitter page:

Expect Schiano to be the front runner for the job beginning in 2020.