For the second time in his career and first time at Penn State, Nittany Lions wrestling coach Cael Sanderson has been named the Intermat Wrestling Coach of the Year, the site announced Friday.
The wrestling website, which has given the award since 2006, noted Sanderson’s three undefeated national champions — Frank Molinaro at 149 pounds, David Taylor at 165 pounds and Ed Ruth at 174 pounds — as one of the bigger boons in his case for the award.
‘But perhaps the coach’s biggest accomplishment was guiding three wrestlers to undefeated seasons: Frank Molinaro at 149, David Taylor at 165, and Ed Ruth at 174,’ Intermat staff writer Tom Franck said in a post on the website.
‘While credit must go to the respective athletes themselves, one can’t help but attribute a big part of their success to guidance from the only Division I wrestler to go undefeated four years in a row while winning four NCAA titles.’
Sanderson, who guided Penn State to a second consecutive NCAA championship in March, received four first-place votes and 72 total points from votes made by Intermat writers and executives. Minnesota coach J Robinson was a distant second, finishing with 48 points and two second-place votes. Cornell’s Rob Koll rounded out the top three.
Sanderson won the award previously during his tenure at Iowa State in 2007.
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