Last Updated: September 27, 2019
Ryan Budzek, a 2019 NCAA Division III national champion, was named assistant men’s wrestling coach at
New Jersey City University, head coach
Harry Turner announced on September 27.
Budzek is the third member of the first-ever wrestling staff in NJCU history.
Budzek, a native of Point Pleasant, N.J., will be making his collegiate coaching debut after completing his career (2014-19) at in-state rival
The College of New Jersey, culminating in his capturing of the 2019 NCAA Division III men’s wrestling
149-pound national title—the program’s 23rd individual national champion.
“Ryan gives us an immediate example of a wrestler who achieved the ultimate goal that we want our athletes chasing—a national title,” said
Turner. “Having him involved in guiding our guys up the mountain that he’s already climbed will have an enormous impact on a young team.”
A 2019 NCAA Division III All-American and two-time national qualifier (2016, 2019), he helped TCNJ finish eighth at the 2019 NCAA Championships.
Budzek was the Lions’ team captain as a senior in 2018-19. He produced a career record of 84-20 and was a four-time regional tournament place-winner.
An excellent student,
Budzek was a two-time All-Academic selection, named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All-Academic Team in 2015 and
2019.
He graduated with a degree in Criminology with a 3.2 GPA. He is currently attending Rutgers Law School in Newark.
Budzek is a 2014 graduate of Point Pleasant Borough High School in Point Pleasant, N.J. There, he won 111 career matches as a four-year varsity letter-winner wrestling for the Panthers from 2010-14. A team captain, he is tied for seventh most wins in the illustrious history of the Point Borough program. He was a two-time Region 6 and two-time District 23 champion as a junior and senior in 2013 and 2014. He is a product of Triumph Wrestling Club.
