Chris Ash fired as Rutgers football coach; Nunzio Campanile will take over

Following a 1-3 start that included a 52-0 loss to Michigan on Saturday, Chris Ash was fired Sunday as Rutgers head coach in a shakeup that also includes the dismissal of offensive coordinator John McNulty, athletics director Pat Hobbs told NJ Advance Media, in a story first reported on our Rutgers Sports Insider.

"We appreciate Chris’s dedicated efforts on behalf of our football program, our department and our university,” Hobbs said in a statement.

Rutgers tight ends coach Nunzio Campanile, who turned Bergen Catholic into a national high school power as head coach of the North Jersey program, will become acting head coach for the remainder of the season.

Ash had no comment when approached by an NJ Advance Media reporter outside the Hale Center before he left campus at approximately 2:40 p.m.

Hobbs will oversee an immediate national search for Ash’s replacement, with former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano expected to be a top candidate. Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead, Buffalo coach Lance Leipold, Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi and Princeton coach Bob Surace are other coaches who are expected to draw interest from Rutgers officials for the job.

Campanile, who will lead the Scarlet Knights on Saturday in a Big Ten game at home against Maryland, also is expected to be a candidate, but a decision isn’t expected until the offseason.

As part of his buyout, Rutgers will owe Ash approximately $8.47 million. That total includes the remainder of his $2.3 million salary this year and the $7.5 million he’s owed through the 2022 season.

McNulty had another year left on his three-year deal that pays him $625,000 this season. McNulty, who was in his second year as Rutgers’ offensive coordinator, is owed approximately $900,00 as part of his buyout.

Rutgers officials told NJ Advance Media the terms of Ash’s and McNulty’s contracts will be paid by using department-generated funds.

Ash arrived at Rutgers four years ago hoping to resurrect a program mired in turmoil. While he navigated Rutgers through a two-year NCAA probation that ended last, Ash couldn’t turn around the Scarlet Knights’ fortunes on the field.

Ash – who had an 8-32 record overall and a 3-26 mark in the Big Ten -- was fired in a meeting with Hobbs on Sunday afternoon.

"This change is especially difficult,'' Hobbs said, "because of the steadfast commitment that Chris and his family have made to our student-athletes.''

After Rutgers finished 1-11 in Ash’s third season last fall, Hobbs stuck by his embattled coach but said he would need to show “significant improvement’’ in 2019.

With eight games remaining, Rutgers has only an opening-day victory over UMass. A pair of Big Ten defeats — at Iowa and at Michigan — have come by a combined score of 82-0.

"Progress has been achieved in many areas, but, unfortunately, that progress has not been realized on the field of play,'' Hobbs said. "As such, it is in the best interest of the program to make a change.''

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By promoting Campanile, Rutgers officials hope the Bergen County native can jumpstart a season that began with promise one month ago. The Scarlet Knights have lost 14 straight Big Ten games and 16 consecutive contests to Power 5 conference opponents.

Campanile will also serve as offensive coordinator, NJ Advance Media has learned.

John Weiss, an offensive assistant, is expected to be promoted to tight ends coach, and Drew Lascari, an offensive quality control coach, is expected to take over as quarterbacks coach. Neither were part of the Scarlet Knights’ 10-man assistant coaching staff, but were involved in offensive game-planning.

Campanile was lured by Ash to become a college assistant in February 2018 after he turned Bergen Catholic into a perennial state-championship contender while compiling a 60-28 (.681) record from 2010-17.

Campanile, who mentored Rutgers’ running backs last season before taking charge of the tight ends, initially signed a one-year deal on Feb. 7, 2018, that paid him $215,000 but he inked a two-year extension pays him $230,000 annually thorough the 2020 season.

Campanile is scheduled to address the media in a press conference Monday at noon.

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Keith Sargeant may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.