RANDE STOTTLEMYER

Twenty-five years at the helm of the most history-rich wrestling programs in the East is no small accomplishment. Pittsburgh’s head wrestling coach, Rande Stottlemyer, has done it the old-fashioned way: a dedication and commitment to one’s principles and beliefs and a good day of hard work.

Along with his assistant coaches, Stottlemyer has continued a winning tradition that he was a part of prior to his coaching days.

Last season, the Panthers were a victory away from winning their first Eastern Wrestling League title. Two of Stottlemyer’s prized pupils, Ronald Tarquinio and Josh Birt, won EWL titles and the team had six NCAA qualifiers.

Two years ago, Carl Fronhofer, now an assistant coach under Stottlemyer, went from being unseeded to an NCAA finalist and an All-American at 174 pounds.

"Jason [Peters], Carl and Bryan [Stout] have done an outstanding job with the student-athletes on this team," Stottlemyer said. "All three guys have an amazing rapport with our team and with prospective wrestlers out there at the high school level."

Pittsburgh’s all-time winningest coach with 215 victories in those 25 seasons, Stottlemyer still enjoys what he does and gets just as much of a thrill in seeing his team succeed that he did in taking the job back in 1979.

His excitement and enthusiasm for a sport he has been a part of for over 30 years is contagious as he talks about his coaching duties with the Panthers.

"Coaching at the University of Pittsburgh has given me an opportunity to work with some top-notch assistants," Stottlemyer said. "It has also given me an opportunity to help student-athletes build character and acquire tools they will need in the future."

Five of the Panthers’ six NCAA qualfiers return from a year ago and the addition of All-American Jeff Ecklof, a transfer from Oklahoma, gives the Panthers a formidable lineup.

During his tenure, Stottlemyer has produced a two-time national champion in Pat Santoro, 23 NCAA All-Americans, 103 national qualifiers and 24 Eastern Wrestling League Champions. In 15 of the last 21 years of his career, Stottlemyer has coached at least one NCAA All-American and his teams have finished in the Top 30 nationally.

Academically, seven of his athletes have been honored as recipients of either the Blue-Gold or Panther Awards, student-athletes whose names are permanently etched in the stones of the sidewalk leading between the Cathedral of Learning and Heinz Chapel. His most recent addition to that special list was Fronhofer, who earned the Blue-Gold Award in 2003.

In addition, two of Stottlemyer's former wrestlers, Greg Zimmerman and John Withrow, were the recipients of the prestigous Omicron Delta Kappa Award, presented annually to the out-standing senior student at Pittsburgh. Numerous Pittsburgh wrestlers have been named to the Eastern Wrestling League's Academic Honor Roll.

Stottlemyer's strong ties and success in the sport of wrestling date back to his high school career at Hickory High School in nearby Hermitage, Pa., where he was a PIAA state runner-up and two-time Junior National Freestyle wrestling champion.