Bergen's Campanile Did 'Incredible Job' As Interim Coach: Schiano

ORADELL, NJ — Nunzio Campanile will be retained by newly returned Rutgers head football coach Greg Schiano.

Schiano spoke well of Campanile at his introductory press conference Wednesday.

Schiano said Campanile did "an incredible, incredible job" coaching the team for its last eight games of the season after then-head coach Chris Ash was fired. (See related: Bergen Native Campanile Named Rutgers Interim Football Coach)

"He will be a head coach [for a] major college when it's said and done, but he kept this group together, and he kept them fighting and that is not easy to do," Schiano said during his introductory press conference. "If you follow sports, that is not easy to do in the situation they were. So Nunz, I really appreciate what you did."

Campanile went 1-7 as interim coach, but Schiano did not focus on that when speaking about him.

"He gave it his all every day, and we saw his effect on the team each passing week, even if it wasn't reflected in the final score," Schiano said.

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.

The Rutgers University Board of Governors approved Schiano's eight-year, $32 million contract Tuesday.

Schiano was Rutgers' head coach from 2001-11 and led the team to new heights: Under his coaching, he directed the Scarlet Knights to six bowl appearances and coached 83 RU players who signed NFL contracts, including first-round picks in Kenny Britt (2009), Anthony Davis (2010) and Devin McCourty (2010).

— With reporting by Carly Baldwin and Kimberly Redmond, Patch staff

Related:

• Wyckoff's Greg Schiano Appointed Rutgers Football Head Coach
• Rutgers' Greg Schiano: We Need YOU Promoting Rutgers Football
• Read Greg Schiano's Contract As Rutgers Football Coach

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com