Matt Storniolo (Photo/Northwestern Athletics)EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern wrestling head coach Matt Storniolo has signed a multi-year contract extension, Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Jim Phillips announced on Wednesday.
"We have one of the best young coaches in all of collegiate wrestling, and we're thrilled to keep him in Evanston," said Phillips. "He has shown the ability to lead his team to athletic and academic success and has also proven to be an elite recruiter that will keep Northwestern wrestling on its successful trajectory. Matt, alongside one of the finest coaching staffs in the nation, will certainly continue to develop world-class student-athletes in the classroom, the community, and in competition."
"I want to thank Dr. Phillips and President Schapiro for the opportunity to continue what we started -- building Northwestern wrestling into one of the NCAA's premier programs, both on and off the mat," said Storniolo. "We have seen tremendous growth in all areas these last two seasons and I look forward to building on that success. Northwestern attracts student-athletes and coaches of the highest caliber, and it is an honor to work with them as we take Wildcat wrestling to new heights. I could not be more excited!"
Including his one season as NU's interim head coach, Storniolo enters his fourth season at the helm of the wrestling squad.
In the 2017-18 campaign, the 'Cats finished with an 11-4 dual record, including five Big Ten wins - surpassing NU's total in conference wins from the previous three campaigns combined. Northwestern also had five NCAA qualifiers at the 2018 Championships, its most since 2015. The year was capped off by first-year Sebastian Rivera's All-America honors after finishing in sixth place at the NCAA Championships.
Off the mat, Storniolo has led his squad to a myriad of accolades. In March, the team accumulated a program-record 14 Academic All-Big Ten honors and, in April, the team was named an NWCA Division-I All-Academic Team, with the team's highest-ever GPA in the award's history. Additionally, NU's six-member Class of 2022 was lauded by Intermat as the 17th-best in the nation.
Prior to Storniolo's elevation to interim head coach, he spent six years as an assistant coach for the Wildcats. A two-time All-American wrestler, Storniolo was a Big 12 Champion his senior year at Oklahoma.
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