KISS NAMED CLARION ASSISTANT WRESTLING COACH
Kyle Kiss, 26, a former assistant coach and wrestler at North Carolina, was named as the assistant wrestling coach at Clarion University by athletic director
Dave Katis.
"We are really happy to announce the hiring of
Kyle Kiss to be our assistant wrestling coach here at Clarion, " said Katis. "He had all the ingredients we were looking for in an assistant coach and will do a great job for our program under coach Ferraro. "
"I am incredibly excited about adding Kyle to our staff," said second year head coach
Keith Ferraro. "He brings some new excitement to the program and has a philosophy that fits in well with the fabric of our program. He is already developing strong relationships with our team and will be a huge part of an environment that breeds success."
Kiss, a native of Loch Arbour, New Jersey and a 2007 graduate of Ocean Township High, was a 4-time New Jersey state placewinner. He was second at states as a senior at 171 while also placing second at Beast of the East. He was 7
th at 171 as a junior and second at Beast of the East, 5
th as a sophomore at 160 and 7
th as a freshman at 145-pounds.
Kyle moved on to wrestle for the Tar Heels at North Carolina starting in the 2007-08 season at 174 pounds, posted 19 wins and was 4
th at ACC's. After a red-shirt season, he notched 24 wins at 165 and placed 3
rd at ACC's in 2010. Kyle was injured and missed the 2011 campaign and came back in 2012 to post 19 wins and placed 4
th at ACC's at 165. He was nationally ranked in the top 20 during the 2012 and 2010 seasons.
A 2012 graduate of UNC with a B.S. Degree in Exercise and Sports Science, he became the head coach of the Carolina Wrestling club from 2012-15 and was an assistant coach at UNC during the 2014-15 seasons.
"I am really happy to be here at Clarion," said Kiss. "I really like the direction coach Ferraro is taking the program and want to be part of growing a winning program. I've met so many great people here, I can't wait to get the season started."
CLARION NOTES: Kiss replaces former Eagle NCAA Qualifier
Tyler Bedelyon who was the interim assistant last season … Coach Ferraro begins his fourth season at Clarion and his second year as head coach… A native of Brookville, Pa., Ferraro was named interim head coach on September 25, 2014 when Troy Letters stepped down, and then was named head coach on December 16… The Golden Eagles were 1-16 in dual meets last season, 5
th at PSAC's and 6
th at EWL's… Clairon opens its 20-15-16 season with its annual blue-gold match on October 23 , hosts the Clarion Open on Nov. 1 and travels to the EMU duals on Nov. 7 … the first home dual meet is Nov. 20
th vs Edinboro at 7pm.