Chris Ash

New Rutgers coach Chris Ash is shaking up the existing coaching staff. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

PISCATAWAY -- New Rutgers coach Chris Ash said his first priority after his introductory press conference on Monday was to meet with the holdover assistants from Kyle Flood's staff.

"When I sit down and meet with the coaches on this staff, if I feel that any of those coaches can be a part of what I'm trying to build, then they will have an opportunity to potentially join the staff," Ash said.

Of the nine full-time assistants, only defensive line coach Jim Panagos and wide receivers coach Anthony Campanile were retained after meeting with Ash, according to two people familiar with the situation. It's unclear if Panagos and Campanile will be retained long-term or if they will just remain in place while Ash transitions to a completely overhauled staff.

The staff changes were first reported by APP.com.

Ash added Vince Okruch as a special teams assistant on Thursday.

Panagos is highly regarded as a coach and recruiter, particularly in Florida. The 44-year-old has been on the Rutgers staff since 2012 after previous stops at Central Florida and with the Minnesota Vikings.

The 33-year-old Campanile provides a valuable connection to New Jersey. A Fair Lawn native, Campanile played at Rutgers from 2001-04 and was an assistant at Don Bosco Prep for five years before joining the Rutgers staff in 2012. His brother Nunzio is the head coach at Bergen Catholic.

Here is the list of assistant coaches who were let go by Ash:

*Defensive coordinator Joe Rossi: $400,000 annual salary, contract ends Feb. 28, 2017

*Offensive coordinator Ben McDaniels: $400,000 annual salary, contract ends Feb. 28, 2017

*Special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Phil Galiano: $300,000 annual salary, contract ends June 30, 2017

*Assistant head coach/running backs coach Norries Wilson: $275,000 annual salary, contract ends Feb. 28, 2017

*Linebackers coach Bob Fraser: $300,000 annual salary, contract ends June 30, 2016

*Defensive backs coach Darrell Wilson: $260,000 annual salary, contract ends June 30, 2017

*Offensive line coach Mitch Browning: $200,000 annual salary, contract initially signed through June 30, 2015, no updated contract on file

The assistants' contracts stipulate that in the event of Flood's firing they will continue to receive their salaries and benefits for the balance of their contracts. Rutgers will cease paying assistants when they secure other jobs. Rutgers would owe the assistants approximately $3.3 million if the entire nine-man staff is not retained and does find other employment before their contracts expire.

Panagos' $250,000 salary is scheduled to increase to $300,000 on July 1, 2016. His contract is signed through June 30, 2017. Campanile earns $200,000 annually and has a contract that expires on Feb. 28, 2017.

The assistant salary pool for this year was $2.585 million. That pool will increase to $2.75 million in Ash's first year.

Strength and conditioning coach Jeremy Cole was also fired by Ash, according to two people with knowledge of the situation. Cole became Rutgers' head football strength coach in 2012 after four years as an assistant. Cole earned $127,562 annually.

There is no word on the status of recruiting coordinator E.J. Barthel or other members of the support staff.

"I will make no comments about who I would keep, who I would not keep or what direction I'm going," Ash said on Monday.

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