NC State’s Popolizio Named National Coach of the Year Finalist

RALEIGH, N.C. – For the second straight season, NC State wrestling coach Pat Popolizio has been named a finalist for the 2019 NWCA Division I National Coach of the Year presented by Defense Soap.

For the first time since the 2014 campaign, NC State won both the ACC regular season title and then the ACC Championship, with three individual conference champions for the second straight year.

This year’s finalists include:

ACC:  Pat Popolizio (NC State)

Big Ten: Cael Sanderson (Penn State)

Big 12: Kevin Dresser (Iowa State)

EWL: Scott Moore (Lock Haven)

EIWA: Kevin Ward (Army West Point)

MAC: John Stutzman (Buffalo)

Pac 12: Jason Borrelli (Stanford)

SoCon:   Cary Kolat (Campbell)

The National winner will be announced at the NWCA Coaches Social on Tuesday, March 19. The winner will be determined by a vote of all NWCA Division I Member Coaches.

The National Coach of the Year award presented by Defense Soap is in its second year of existence and is intended to honor the coach who has had the most outstanding season up to the NCAA Championship which includes dual meet success and conference tournament placement.