Alex Rinaldi serves as the UCNJ's Head Wrestling Coach, bringing a dynamic mix of competitive experience, leadership, and mentorship to the program. Now entering his third year coaching at UCNJ, Coach Rinaldi has made a significant impact by developing a culture rooted in accountability, discipline, and growth.

A proud alumnus of Blair Academy, where he was part of three National Championship wrestling teams and earned two Prep All-American honors. Coach Alex Rinaldi continued his athletic journey at the Division I, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Competing at 125 and 133 lbs, he was a two-year starter and member of an ACC Championship team. These formative experiences instilled in him the high-performance mindset he now imparts to his athletes.

Coach Alex Rinaldi’s time at UCNJ has already produced impressive results, including mentoring a district champion, multiple national qualifiers, and Scholar All-Americans. Under his leadership, numerous athletes have successfully transitioned to four-year institutions to continue their wrestling and academic careers.

With a bachelor's degree in Communications and Media Studies from UNC, Coach Alex Rinaldi brings unique communication and leadership strengths, strengthing by his professional background as a TV news and sports producer. His work earned him and his team several broadcast awards and a regional Emmy nomination.

A strong advocate for integrated athlete development, Coach Alex Rinaldi focuses on cultivating resilience, leadership, and personal accountability among his student-athletes. He will be pursuing his MBA in the fall and continues to mentor young athletes interested in athletics, media, and communications.

In his free time, Coach Alex Rinaldi enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, and being with friends and family. His coaching mantra—“You get what you give”—reflects his belief in hard work and intentional effort, both on the mat and in life.

Coach Alex Rinaldi is passionate about using athletics as a vehicle for life success, and is committed to helping each student-athlete reach their full potential.

“There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why ... I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?” - Robert F. Kennedy, who was paraphrasing the playwright George Bernard Shaw