PISCATAWAY - Former Ocean Township High School star Kyle Kiss has been named the recruiting coordinator for the Rutgers University wrestling program, Scarlet Knights' coach Scott Goodale announced Thursday.

Kiss, who was a four-time NJSIAA placewinner, three-time Region VI and District 22 champion and two-time Beast of the East Tournament champion during his scholastic career from 2003-2007, replaces Harry Turner.

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Turner, a former Howell High School star, was named the first-ever head coach at Division III Jersey City University last month.

"We're excited to bring Kyle on staff," Goodale said. "He is a Jersey guy who has successfully wrestled at the highest level of the sport, Kyle will be a tremendous asset in our recruiting efforts as we continue to look for the best athletes in the country to compete here at Rutgers."

Kiss, who wrestled collegiately at the University of North Carolina, was an assistant coach in charge of recruiting at Clarion (Pa.) the last four seasons.

Clarion had 10 NCAA Tournament qualifiers during Kiss' tenure. and two or more wrestlers to the national tournament in each season.

Before he went to Clarion, Kiss was an assistant coach at North Carolina during the 2014-15 season, where he worked closely with the middle weights and five national qualifiers, including All-American Ethan Ramos. |

Related:Rutgers wrestling: Rob Kanniard ready to compete for a lineup spot right away

Kiss was the state runner-up at 171 to Watchung Hill's Brendan Ard in 2007. He was fifth at 160 in 2005, seventh at 171 in 2006 and seventh at 145 in 2004.

During his scholastic career, Kiss was part of a talented team that included two-time state champion Nick Menditto and multiple state placewinners Jeff Sicliano, Andrew Van Dyk and Danny Lopes.

Ocean won four consecutive NJSIAA Central Group III championships and twice advanced to the Group III championship match during Kiss' scholastic career.

The Spartans also advanced to the Shore Conference Tournament championship match in Kiss' sophomore season in 2005, where they were defeated 29-27 by the Goodale-coached Jackson Memorial team on a pin at heavyweight - the final bout of the match.

Kiss recorded 70 wins and was a three-time Atlantic Coast Conference placewinner during his collegiate career.

Related Wrestling: Former Bergen Catholic standout Gerard Angelo transfers to Rutgers

Rutgers is coming off an historic 2018-19 campaign which was capped by the program's first individual NCAA titles by Nick Suriano (133) and Anthony Ashnault (149) as well as its first top-10 finish at the national tournament. |

The Scarlet Knights return Suriano and four other past national qualifiers this season and has a talented recruiting class featuring 2019 state champions Joseph Aragona, Rob Kanniard and Sammy Alvarez entering the program and 2015 state champion Gerard Angelo entering the

Steven Falk covers scholastic baseball, football and wrestling for app.clom and is a life-long resident of the Shore area who loves the rich history of sports in the Shore area 732-643-4267; sfalk@gannettnj.com