Joe Pollard - Coach

A strong presence in the Rutgers wrestling room for more than a decade, Joe Pollard begins his 13th season "On the Banks" and third as an assistant with the Scarlet Knights. 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 10 seasons and multiple All-Americans at seven of the last eight NCAA Championships.
 
With Pollard on staff In 2023-24, 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.

Pollard has also been instrumental in RU's 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.

Pollard joined the Scarlet Knights for the 2011-12 season after spending 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.