Chris Ash game-planned for Rutgers in each of the past three seasons as an opposing defensive coordinator. And each time Ash put on Rutgers' game film, he had the same complaint that has been echoed by fans since the program introduced a new uniform style in 2012: He couldn't read the numbers.

"It was terrible," Ash said in an interview with NJ Advance Media on Tuesday. "The times I coached against Rutgers, that was like the No. 1 thing: When you're trying to identify personnel coming in the game and you can't see the damn numbers."

Ash, who was hired as Rutgers' head coach in December after spending the past two seasons as Ohio State's defensive coordinator, plans to change the uniforms, although he quipped, "I'm not trying to make it easier for our opponents."

Ash didn't divulge specifics about the new uniforms, which he said will be released some time after spring practice. But he clearly has a style in mind.

"I just look at: Does Ohio State have 15 uniforms? No. Does Alabama? No. Does Michigan? No. Does USC? No," Ash said. "You look at some of the traditional best football programs around the country and they have an identifiable, clean, first-class look and that's what I want us to have."

The current uniforms were introduced after Rutgers' athletic department and Nike agreed to a five-year, $5.2 million deal that runs through 2016-17. Rutgers athletic director Pat Hobbs said Wednesday at a town hall meeting with students that negotiations for a new apparel contract, which should be far more lucrative, will start soon.

The three uniforms -- red, white and black -- had a number of features inspired by the concept of knighthood and medieval armor. There were pre-scuffed chrome helmets, scratch marks on the shoulders of the jerseys and a stripe running down the pants to represent a sword.

But for all of the attention to detail, two glaring issues bothered many fans: The silver numbers were nearly impossible to read and the tint of the home jerseys appeared more salmon than scarlet. Like most things in the program, Ash wasted no time working to make changes to the uniforms.

"I think there were some conversations already in the works about some new uniforms," Ash said. "When I got here I was fortunate to get in on the front end of it and make changes with uniforms and helmets. I'm a traditionalist. I'm not a guy that likes 15 different uniforms and 15 different helmets. I want a look that's classy, that's identifiable, that people really think looks sharp. We're going to hopefully have that type of look."

In an NJ.com poll with more than 1,100 votes last September, only 6.9 percent of respondents were in favor of keeping the current uniforms. The majority (60 percent) voted to go back to the program's traditional style, while 33.2 percent voted for a new look.

All ready to go for tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/8JsHDtVa8h — Rutgers Equipment (@RutgersFB_EQ) September 25, 2015

While the new uniforms won't be a carbon copy, Ash said they will be more in line with the classic style worn before the change four years ago. And fans should be able to read the jersey numbers from the bleachers.

"The new look that we'll have will be released. Is it going to be like a, 'Wow! Oh my God!' No, it won't," Ash said. "But it will be one that I think will be sharp and clean and look first-class."

Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.