Anthony Ashnault hired as an assistant wrestling coach at Princeton

Anthony Ashnault, who was a national champion in 2019 for Rutgers University, will get to experience the intense Rutgers-Princeton wrestling rivalry from the Princeton side as he has been hired as an assistant coach for the Tigers, it was announced Thursday.

"Anthony Ashnault is a New Jersey legend," Princeton's second-year head coach Joe Dubuque said in a release from the school. "Bringing him into this program is so impactful in so many ways.

"His wrestling speaks for itself, but I'm excited for how he will elevate the Princeton wrestling brand and the immediate impact he will have on our recruiting. Anthony's eagerness to learn and passion to make Princeton wrestling one of the best programs in the country makes this an unbelievable hire for me!''

Ashnault won his NCAA title at 149 pounds in 2019 and went 32-0 that season. He was a four-time NCAA All-American and three-time Big Ten champion.

He is one of two Rutgers wrestlers to win a national title. Nick Suriano won the 133-pound championship two bouts before Ashnault won his title. Ashnault is Rutgers' all-time wins leader with 123.

Ashnault was an assistant coach at Rutgers for the 2021-22 season before he left the program to concentrate on his international career.

Rutgers head coach Scott Goodale said he was excited for the opportunity being at Princeton presents for Ashnault in a post on X, formerly Twitter, Thursday night. "Awesome opportunity for AA!" Goodale wrote.

One of four wrestlers to win four NJSIAA championship and one of two to accomplish that feat while going unbeaten for his career, Ashnault went 170-0 at South Plainfield from 2009-2013. Suriano went 159-0 during his career at Bergen Catholic from 2012-2016.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NCAA Wrestling: Anthony Ashnault hired as assistant coach by Princeton