Following their 52-0 loss to Michigan, which dropped them to 1-3 on the season, Ash has been let go as the head coach at Rutgers.
Offensive coordinator John McNulty has also been let go. NJ.com was the first to report.
"We appreciate Chris’s dedicated efforts on behalf of our football program, our department and our university,” AD Pat Hobbs shared in a statement. "Progress has been achieved in many areas, but, unfortunately, that progress has not been realized on the field of play. As such, it is in the best interest of the program to make a change.''
Tight ends coach Nunzio Campanile, who previously served as the head coach east coast powerhouse at Bergen Catholic HS (NJ), and who worked with the running backs last year, will take over as head coach and also offensive coordinator for the rest of the season, the report adds. Offensive assistant John Weiss is expected to get the bump to tight ends coach, while offensive quality control coach Drew Lascari is expected to take over the quarterbacks duties.
Ash was 8-32 leading the Scarlet Knights, with his best season coming in year two with a 4-8 finish and 5th place finish in the Big Ten East. He finished 3-26 in Big Ten play.
NJ.com adds that Rutgers will owe Ash just under $8.5 million as part of his buyout, which includes the remainder of his 2019-20 salary of $2.3 million. McNulty had signed a three-year deal worth $625k annually, and had another year left on his contract so he'll be due about $900k according to the report.
In an interesting twist, sources tell FootballScoop that former Rutgers head coach, and former Ohio State offensive coordinator Greg Schiano left the Patriots after originally being named defensive coordinator to open a return to Rutgers. Read more on that here.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for more.