Jeff Winkle has been hired to coach the Penn State Beaver men’s wrestling team which will begin its inaugural season this fall. Beaver currently has seven varsity sports: baseball, softball, volleyball, men's soccer, women's soccer, men's basketball, and women's basketball.
Winkle is a graduate of Hopewell High School where he was a member of the wrestling team. He has remained active in Hopewell’s wrestling program for thirteen years. Winkle holds a bachelor’s degree in human resources from Geneva College and a master’s degree in strategic leadership from Mountain State University.
"I look forward to the challenges and opportunities provided with starting a new wrestling program," Winkle said. "Western Pennsylvania and the tri-state area have significant wrestling talent to draw from, and the new program should be a great fit within the Beaver campus Athletic Department."
"The addition of wrestling will provide more opportunities for student-athletes to continue their careers while attending Beaver campus," Chancellor Gary B. Keefer said. "We believe men’s wrestling will generate significant interest in southwestern Pennsylvania."
"This is another positive step as we continue to move our athletic program forward," Athletic Director Andy Kirschner said. "In the past several years, we’ve experienced major growth in our varsity and intramural sports, and we’ve joined the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). We have a very strong program."
For more information about men's wrestling or Beaver campus athletics, visit www.beaver.psu.edu, or contact Kirschner at ack121@psu.edu or 724-773-3826, or Bert DeSalvo, assistant athletic director, at apd12@psu.edu or 724-773-3827.