Former Penn State wrestler Nick Lee has been tabbed as the Nittany Lions’ next assistant coach, head coach Cael Sanderson said on the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club’s “Strong and Grateful podcast with Jeff Byers. Lee will take over for former assistant coach Jimmy Kennedy, who left Penn State to join his brother-in-law David Taylor’s staff at Oklahoma State.
“We have so many incredible people around here. I think — I don’t think, I know we’re going to hire Nick Lee in that position.”
Lee won two national titles at 141 pounds and was a four-time All-American while at Penn State from 2017 to 2022. He finished his collegiate career with a 116-13 record.
After Penn State, Lee made the 2023 World Team and finished second at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in April at the Bryce Jordan Center, falling to Penn State and Nittany Lion Wrestling Club teammate Zain Retherford in the finals.
“He has a knack for coaching,” Sanderson said on the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club podcast. “He’s really smart. He’s taken a vested interest in helping the people around him get better. Even at times when he’s supposed to be training, he’s helping others. I think he’s going to do an outstanding job.”
Geoff Rushton contributed to this report.
