Pat Santoro celebrates after Darian Cruz wins the NCAA title at 125 pounds (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Lehigh Athletics has announced that Pat Santoro has made a long-term commitment to continue as the Lawrence White '64 Head Coach of Wrestling. Santoro recently completed his ninth season in Bethlehem, which was capped with a strong performance at the NCAA Championships, where Darian Cruz '18 won the 28th individual national championship in Lehigh wrestling history.
"I'm committed to Lehigh and always have been," Santoro said. "I love the people associated with Lehigh and am grateful for the support the athletic department and the University have provided for Lehigh wrestling. Most importantly, I love being around this team. They're a special group that's capable of some special things. I'm excited to continue to work to accomplish the goals we've set for this program."
A three-time EIWA Coach of the Year, Santoro has now mentored two Lehigh wrestlers to NCAA titles in Cruz and Zach Rey '12. He has guided 11 men to a total of 20 All-America honors, with Scott Parker '19 joining Cruz on the podium earlier this month with an eighth place finish at 133. The Mountain Hawks finished 12th at the NCAA Championships, and under Santoro's leadership posted top 10 team finishes in 2011 and 2012.
At the conference level, Santoro has led 13 individuals to a total of 16 EIWA titles, with Cruz and Parker both capturing EIWA crowns this past season. Santoro owns a 123-41-1 dual meet record in nine seasons at Lehigh, including a 10-4 mark in 2016-17.
Santoro's Lehigh teams have also been successful in the classroom and as ambassadors for the University off the mats. Over the last six seasons, 22 Lehigh wrestlers have been named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association's All-Academic Team. Lehigh's has also been recognized by the NWCA as one of the top programs in Division I in terms of team GPA in four of the last five seasons.
"Pat Santoro is an exceptional coach -- a superb teacher of his sport, a great mentor for young men, and a terrific representative of the values of our University," said Lehigh Dean of Athletics Joe Sterrett '76. "His program is one of integrity, high character and consistent competitiveness at the highest levels. I am honored and proud to work with him. All of us at Lehigh could not be more pleased that he has committed to remain at Lehigh for the foreseeable future."
In addition to Cruz and Parker, Lehigh returns three NCAA qualifiers plus a young nucleus that includes members of nationally-ranked recruiting classes in 2015 and 2016.
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