Santoro adds Headlee to Lehigh coaching staff

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Lehigh head coach Pat Santoro has announced that former Pittsburgh All-American Drew Headlee has joined the Mountain Hawks coaching staff as a volunteer assistant. Headlee will train and work with the Lehigh Valley Athletic Club, a position that allows him to assist the Lehigh program on a volunteer basis. He will work primarily with Lehigh's young and talented group of lightweights.

"I'm really excited to have Drew here," Santoro said. "I've known him for a long time, being a Pitt grad. I think he will fit in very well here. He's great technically and is a quality person. It's always great to have an All-American in the room and he's also done well at the international level."

Drew Headlee

Headlee has spent the last two years training at the North Carolina Regional Training Center in Chapel Hill, N.C., and prior to that trained for two years at the Regional Training Center at West Virginia. He competed in freestyle at the Olympic Trials in 2008 and 2012 in the 132 lb. weight class. Headlee placed in the top seven at the U.S. Open in freestyle in four straight years from 2008 to 2011, highlighted by fifth place finishes in 2010 and 2011. This past year Headlee won the Final Olympic Trials Qualifying tournament. He also owns a runner-up finish at the 2009 NYAC International and third place finishes at the 2010 Sunkist International and the 2011 Cerro Pelado International.

At the University of Pittsburgh, Headlee was a three-year captain and four-year letter winner for the Panthers under head coach Rande Stottlemyer. Headlee won Eastern Wrestling League titles in 2007 (at 133) and 2008 (at 141) and was a three-time NCAA tournament qualifier. As a sophomore in 2005, Headlee earned All-America honors with an eighth place finish at 133. He just missed earning his second All-America medal as a senior in 2008 as he lost in the round of 12.

As a freshman, Headlee won the Mat Town Invitational at 125. He also won the 133-pound title at the 2006 Body Bar Invitational at Cornell, and was a University National Freestyle Champion. He earned his degree in architectural studies from Pitt in 2008.

Headlee was a four year letter winner at Waynesburg Central High School in Waynesburg, Pa. He compiled a career record of 137-28 and was a three-time WPIAL Champion and a three-time Pennsylvania state qualifier, placing fourth in AAA in 2001 before capturing a state title in 2002. Headlee was also a three time Pennsylvania freestyle state champion and a six time Cadet/Junior National place winner.

Headlee joins a Lehigh coaching staff led by Santoro and featuring former Lehigh All-American Brad Dillon and former Penn State national champion John Hughes, all of whom enter their fifth seasons on the Mountain Hawks coaching staff.

"He fits a need for us as the lightweight coach," Santoro said. "It's a win-win for both parties. It will help Drew and it will help us, so we're really excited he's coming."

Lehigh begins preseason practice next month, with the annual Brown and White Wrestle-offs set for Thursday November 1. One week later on November, Lehigh will open the dual season against Binghamton inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Season and single match tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or by visiting Lehighsports.com.

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Santoro adds Headlee to Lehigh coaching staff

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