Albert Essilfie enters his third season on the track and field coaching staff and fourth season overall. Essilfie, who joined the program during the 2021-22 season as a volunteer assistant, works with the sprint and hurdle event groups.
The 2022-23 season was highlighted by standout performances from former Scarlet Knights sprinter Nadale Buntin. Buntin closed out his Rutgers career capturing the 200-meter gold at the 2023 Big Ten Indoor Championships. The Scarlet Knights secured a total of 11 podium finishes in the sprint and hurdle events during the indoor and outdoor conference championships.
In his first season with the Scarlet Knights, Essilfie made an immediate impact, helping Farrell and the event group achieve 32 all-time top-10 performances. He was instrumental in every aspect of the event group which saw 39 personal records set throughout the season. The group also featured two school records, a USATF National Qualifier, U20 USATF National Qualifier, NCAA Championship Qualifier and six NCAA East Preliminary qualifiers.
Essilfie, one of the top youth club coaches in the country, has earned a reputation for developing talent. The South Jersey native, is the founder and head coach of the Camden Track Club and owner of UChampion Sports Academy. He has over 27 years of coaching experience at the club and high school level.
On the club level he has coached 79 National Champions and 338 USATF/AAU All Americans. In addition, his athletes have broken five USATF/AAU national records.
On the high school level, he has coached 10 New Jersey Meet of Champions winners and 74 New Jersey State Champions.
Essilfie has deep ties and long-time connections in New Jersey and throughout the country, making him a key addition to recruiting. He is highly respected and will play an instrumental role in making Rutgers a key landing spot for New Jersey talent.
Essilfie competed in track and field at Rowan University where he earned NCAA All-American status in the 4x100 relay and was an all-conference sprinter. He served as team captain for two years and held the school record for the 100 meters and 4x100 relay.
Essilfie holds a World Athletics Academy Level 5 Elite Coach Certification in Sprints & Hurdles and a USATF Level III Certification in Sprints & Hurdles. He also currently serves as the USATF NJ Youth Chair.
A 1996 graduate of Rowan University, Essilfie earned a bachelor's degree in Accounting. He also holds an MBA degree from Monmouth University (2003).
