Ajai Dhadwal returned to Rutgers' field hockey in 2024 for his second stint as a field hockey assistant coach. Dhadwal returns to the Scarlet Knights coaching staff where he previously was an assistant coach from 2017 to 2021.
“We are so, so happy that Ajai is returning Rutgers,” head coach Meredith Civico said. “He is an incredible coach, world-class player and – most importantly – an outstanding person. He was integral part of our Big Ten Championship winning season and I am excited to have him back on Rutgers Field Hockey sideline.”
In Dhadwal's first season in his second stint, the 2024 season saw ranked wins over No.17 Penn State, No. 7 Iowa, No. 7 Ohio State and No. 3 Ohio State. The win over the third ranked Buckeyes came in the Big Ten Tournament.
Puck Winter finished the 2024 season with 25 defensive saves for her career. In doing so, she became RU's career record holder in the statistic. Additionally, Paulina Niklaus became the newest RU All-American.
During his first stint with the program, the Scarlet Knights compiled a 51-27 record that was highlighted by two appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2018 and 2021), and the program’s first ever Big Ten Tournament championship in 2021. Following that 2021 season with Dhadwal on staff, Rutgers earned the Mid-Atlantic Region Coaching Staff of the Year award.
Dhadwal is a highly accomplished professional player on the international level with the USA Men's Field Hockey team. He has over 100 international caps and has served as a team captain. He is currently playing with Team USA at the FIH Hockey5s World Cup in Muscat, Oman.
The Agoura Hills, Calif. native earned an undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins, where got his start in coaching as an assistant there for three seasons. Dhadwal spent two years coaching at Brunel University London, coaching the men’s and women’s university teams. He also was the head coach in 2015 for Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego, Calif.
