Rutgers Wrestling’s Billy Ashnault Named Head Coach at CBA

A staple of the Rutgers Wrestling program is leaving for an exciting opportunity. Billy Ashnault, who served as the Director of Operations for the past six seasons, will become the newest head coach for the Christian Brothers Academy wrestling program.

Ashnault, a former collegiate wrestler himself, will run one of the more successful programs in New Jersey. CBA won three consecutive NJSIAA District Titles from 2014 to 2016 and is consistently a Top-10 team in the state.

”It’s humbling to be the next head coach at a unique institution like Christian Brothers Academy, where they are committed to excellence in both the classroom and athletics,” Ashnault said in a statement provided by CBA. “I look forward to the challenge of continuing the great wrestling tradition at CBA.”

The jump from wrestler to director suited him due to his familiarity with the program. Ashnault finished as a three-time national qualifier as a member of the Scarlet Knights, including a Top-12 finish as a senior captain in 2012.

Rutgers head coach Scott Goodale gave a nice sendoff to an important part of the program, who will begin his own coaching career.

“Billy is going to make for a phenomenal wrestling coach,” Goodale said. “He is passionate about the sport and CBA made a game-changing hire. He has been my right-hand man for six years from an operational standpoint, so I see day in and day out the relationships he builds and the athletes he has impacted. This is just the start for what could be an incredible career for him.”

In what could be the start of a great coaching career, Ashnault said Rutgers will always be in his blood.

“From competing as a student-athlete to working alongside the great people here, my time at Rutgers has been awesome,” Ashnault said. “I’m very grateful to have been able to learn from so many influential people here over the years. I can’t thank the Rutgers wrestling staff enough. This place will always be a family to me.”