Bergen Native Campanile Named Rutgers Interim Football Coach

ORADELL, NJ — Ex-Bergen Catholic coach Nunzio Campanile was named the interim head coach of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team.

Campanile, a Fair Lawn native, was promoted to the position after Chris Ash was fired after going 1-3 this season, Rutgers' Athletic Director Pat Hobbs announced Sunday. Campanile had been the Scarlet Knights' tight ends coach. He joined Ash's staff in 2018 as the running backs coach.

"It's a tremendous honor, as a guy who is from New Jersey and loves New Jersey, to be able to represent Rutgers and New Jersey is special to me," Campanile said at a news conference. "I've worked my entire life to prepare for this opportunity. This is the Holy Grail. I'm just going to do my job and do the best I can."

A graduate of Paramus Catholic High School, Campanile was head coach at Bergen Catholic from 2010 to 2017 and won the Non-Public, Group 4 state championship in 2017.

Campanile earned a 60-28 record while leading the Crusaders as a perennial top-100 high school football powerhouse.

Before coaching in Oradell, Campanile worked under legendary coach Greg Toal at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey. The Ironmen won six state titles with Campanile as the offensive coordinator and a national championship in 2009. He was also head wrestling coach and athletic director at Don Bosco and was a history and physical education teacher as well.

Campanile comes from a football family. He played quarterback and safety for his father, Mike at Paramus Catholic. His three brothers are also coaches.

"I've been on a football field since I was 5 years old," Campanile said. "I think that I'm prepared to help these guys moving forward, but I'm keeping focused on the task at hand."

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com