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closePenn State is actively pursuing one of wrestling’s biggest names for its head coaching spot.
Iowa State coach Cael Sanderson, a four-time NCAA champion and Olympic gold medalist, met with Penn State officials here Thursday, according to multiple sources close to the situation.
It’s unclear whether Penn State has offered Sanderson the position vacated by Troy Sunderland, who resigned earlier this month after 11 years as head coach.
Penn State spokesman Pat Donghia said Thursday the university has no comment on the search process.
Sanderson, an Iowa State alumnus, recently completed his third season coaching the Cyclones. Iowa State finished third behind Iowa and Ohio State during last month’s NCAA Championships.
The Cyclones also won the Big 12 Tournament title and finished 15-3 in dual meets.
Sanderson went 159-0 during his college career at Iowa State. He captured his fourth NCAA title in 2002 and claimed a gold medal two years later at the Athens Olympics. Sanderson replaced Bobby Douglas as the Cylcones’ head coach in 2006.
Sanderson has deep ties to Iowa State. His older brother, Cody, is the school’s associate head coach, while his younger brother, Cyler, wrestles for the Cyclones.
Luring Sanderson from Iowa State could be costly. Sanderson received a base salary of $132,500 during the 2008 fiscal year, according to Iowa public records.
Sanderson, 29, is one of multiple high-profile coaches who have been in contact with Penn State. According to multiple sources, the search committee has interviewed more than a half-dozen coaches.
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