Troy SunderlandFormer Penn State head wrestling coach Troy Sunderland has handed in his resignation as coach at Manheim Central High School after eight seasons.
Sunderland came to the school located in Lancaster County in southeastern Pennsylvania after having left the helm of the Nittany Lions mat program at the end of the 2008-09 season. He was replaced by Cael Sanderson, who earlier this week signed a multi-year contract to continue his successful career at Penn State.
Under Sunderland, the Barons captured two L-L Section Two crowns -- the second coming just last season -- and went a combined 41-11 in the league and 67-52 overall.
The shift from collegiate to high school coaching seemed to suit Sunderland, according to his boss at Manheim Central.
"Sunderland wanted to escape the hype up there and get down to this level," athletic director George Derbyshire told LancasterOnline.com. "He was good at it. He was really good with the kids. You could tell he was refreshed by being part of Manheim Central as compared to being in the Big Ten."
Meanwhile, Derbyshire needs to find a wrestling coach.
"We're not going to rush in the hiring process," said the Manheim Central AD. "We won't get into that until after the school year starts. You won't hear anything at least until September."
Troy Sunderland has deep wrestling roots in the Keystone State.
A two-time PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) champion at Mount Union High School, Sunderland became a three-time All-American and two-time NCAA runner-up wrestler for Penn State, winning 100 individual matches. A 1993 Penn State grad, Sunderland coached the Nittany Lions to a 115-90-2 dual meet record and directed four top-10 finishes at the NCAA Division I championships before leaving Happy Valley in 2009.
What's next for Sunderland?
He's not saying. However, he has two daughters who run track at Manheim Central, and a wife who is a teacher in a nearby school.
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