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Matt Dernlan is in his fifth year with the Nittany Lion wrestling program and fourth as assistant coach. His first season he served as the team's Director of Operations. Now in his fourth year as first assistant coach, Dernlan's efforts helped the Lion's secure one of the nation's top recruiting classes in both 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07, as well as last year's superb class. His efforts have also laid the groundwork for future recruiting classes at Penn State. Dernlan is a 1996 graduate of Liberty University where he was an NCAA qualifier in wrestling. He went on to earn a master's degree in sport administration from Bowling Green in 2002 and is currently working toward a doctorate in higher education. "Matt's impact on our program has been outstanding," head coach Troy Sunderland said. "His efforts in recruiting and in the wrestling room continue to point us in the upward direction we are heading in." Dernlan had an outstanding wrestling career. He was inducted into the Ohio High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002 following a career in which he was a three-time, undefeated Ohio State Champion (1989-91) and a three-time USA Wrestling High School All-American (1989-91). He went on to become an NCAA qualifier at Liberty. Dernlan previously served as an assistant coach at Ohio Northern University (2001-2004) and at St. Paris Graham High School in Ohio (1997-99) and was an assistant director at Jeff Jordan's State Champ Camps (1995-98 &1999-2000). He also has experience serving as the Assistant Director of the Division III NCAA Wrestling Tournament (2003) and as the Manager of Development for USA Wrestling (1998-99), where he managed efforts for the $10 million "Wrestling for the Next Millennium" capital campaign. Matt and his wife, Carie, have two daughters, Ava and Aubrey.
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