Steve Mytych - Coach

Steve Mytych begins his third year with Rutgers wrestling and second as an assistant coach in 2024-25. Mytych, who arrived at Rutgers ahead of the 2022-23 season, previously served as the program's director of operations prior to his promotion to full-time assistant. Recognized as one of the top up-and-coming recruiters in the country by MatScouts with strong recruiting ties both nationally and within the Pennsylvania region, Mytych was previously on staff at Binghamton and has also coached at Bloomsburg and Keystone prior to his arrival 'On the Banks.'
 
"We are thrilled to keep Steve on staff as an assistant coach," Goodale said. Steve has been a valuable member of our program and has established himself as a tireless worker and advocate for our student-athletes. With strong ties to the Pennsylvania region, we cannot wait to have him with us both on the bench and on the recruiting trail."
 
"I am very thankful for the opportunity Scott has given me and I am excited to be able to get out and recruit the best student-athletes around in my new role," Mytych said. "My connections both nationally as well as in Pennsylvania will help this program continue to bring in some of the best talent in the country. New Jersey has become my home, and I would like to thank my family for all of their support."
 
In his second season on staff, Rutgers finished No. 14 in the final NWCA Coaches Poll and produced multiple All-Americans for the eighth time in nine seasons, as Dylan Shawver (133) and Yaraslau Slavikouski (HWT) finished seventh in their respective weight classes at the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Kansas City. Eight Scarlet Knights qualified for nationals, the most since all 10 starters qualified in 2016. RU also finished sixth at the 2024 Big Ten Wrestling Championships in College Park, Maryland, which included an individual title from Shawver, seven conference place winners and 87.5 team points - its best team result since 2016. Rutgers closed the dual season with a 12-5 mark, with its No. 14 final dual ranking its 12th top-25 finish during Goodale's tenure. Twelve student-athletes earned Winter Academic All-Big Ten recognition, while three individuals – Slavikouski, John Poznanski and Anthony White - were named NWCA Scholar All-Americans.

Mytych has been instrumental in RU's recent recruiting success, as the program signed the No. 4 overall recruiting class in the country, according to Intermat's final rankings. It marks the highest-rated rookie class since Rutgers inked the No. 4 overall class during the 2007-08 cycle.

Mytych served as an assistant at Binghamton from 2020-22, with eight Bearcats qualifying for nationals during that stretch. In his first season with Binghamton, Mytych helped Micah Roes (125 pounds) become the third true freshman in program history to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
 
Prior to joining the Bearcats, Mytych was an assistant coach at Bloomsburg, where he helped the Huskies earn two qualifiers to nationals in 2019.
 
From 2016-2019, Mytych served as the head coach at Keystone College to restart the wrestling program. He also served as Keystone's compliance coordinator and handled transfers.
 
Mytych brings an extensive and accomplished wrestling background to Rutgers. A four-time NCAA Division I national qualifier at Drexel, he became the Dragons' all-time leader in wins with 137 during his career from 2005-2010. He went on to represent the Lehigh Valley AC/Team USA on the Olympic Freestyle Circuit, where he was crowned the University Freestyle National Champion in 2011.
 
The northeast Pennsylvania native has carried over his success on the mat to the sidelines, having led programs for the Lehigh Valley Athletic Club and for Pennsylvania Wrestling while also serving as an assistant coach at Bloomsburg University in 2011. Prior to taking over the helm of Keystone's program, Mytych was also an assistant coach for the wrestling team at Wyoming Seminary Preparatory School where he was also the head strength and conditioning coach and the head girls' softball coach which made the schools first ever District Final winning 19 games that season. Mytych was also selected as an assistant coach for the Senior All Star game.
 
Mytych's illustrious career at Drexel began with Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Rookie of the Year honors in 2006 as he became the first Dragons' wrestler to earn the award.  A three-year team captain at Drexel, Mytych collected the most major decision in NCAA wrestling in 2008 with 15 on the season.  In 2010, he won the CAA Championship and was named the Team MVP to go along with his second Wilkes Open Championship while being named the Wilkes Open Outstanding Wrestler.  Mytych posted numerous top-five finishes competing against the top wrestlers in the country at various tournaments and finished in the U.S. Open Top 12 in 2010 and 2011.
 
Mytych continued his wrestling career on the Olympic Freestyle Circuit, finishing fourth at the World Team Trials in 2013.  He also represented Team USA on tours to Russia and Cuba that same year and finished fourth at the Sunkist International Open and seventh at the U.S. Open.  Mytych twice attended the U.S. National Team Training Camp and also scored a trio of impressive third place finishes including at the 2010 University Freestyle Nationals as well as in the 2009 University Greco Nationals and the 2009 NE Regionals Freestyle. 
 
Mytych started wrestling at Wyoming Valley West High School before moving to Northampton High School where he grappled for a school that was the top ranked public high school in the country in 2004.   He was a four-time PIAA state qualifier from 2002-2005, placing eighth in 2003 and 4th in 2004.  Mytych was the NE Regional Champion in 2005 after finishing as the regional runner-up the previous three seasons.  The holder of 139 scholastic wins, he also was a two-time District XI champion.
 
Mytych earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Drexel in 2010. Mytych was inducted into the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame in August 2018.
 
Mytych resides in Hellertown, Pennsylvania with his wife, Crystal, and children, Stevy J and Mercedes.