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Pitt HC - calling El Jefe

dicemen99

dicemen99

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2005
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So I heard a rumor the other night - which I would have dismissed as ludicrous, except for it came from someone inside the D1 coaching ranks - that Santoro was headed to Pitt after the season with John Hughes taking over at Lehigh.

Probably just someone throwing stuff on the wall, but if it happened would be a home run for Pitt. They would probably clean house and then start keeping some of the western PA studs home. I don't think it would have much effect on PSU recruiting wise the way we recruit nationally, but it would probably hurt the Virginia and Virginia Techs - and possibly Iowa - that have been poaching a stud or two out of western PA.

I know a lot of you have hate for all things sPitt around here, but I'd actually like to see this happen.
 
not nuts.....i heard this in d4/columbia co. circles
 
When I saw this headline on the thread list, my immediate reaction was: not interested, I have a job.

I want to see Pitt become relevant. They should be among the elite programs. History tells me to be skeptical that the school will make that happen. Will take far more than just hiring the right coach, though that would help a lot.

Santoro would be a great hire and possibly the best case scenario for them. One fly in the ointment: does Pitt have an AD yet?

Throwing this out: if it happens and I'm Santoro, my first call would be to ask Hempfield's coaches if a certain cadet world champ might be wobbly about moving west.

OBTW, would be great to see Hughes finally get his shot.
 
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It makes a lot of sense, imo. Santoro has sort of hit a plateau at Lehigh and hasn't managed to top Cornell at the EIWAs for over 10 years. He's done well at Lehigh, but a new program for him might be a plus. Obviously, in addition, it's his alma mater and has added appeal for that.

Hughes getting the job at Lehigh would be a nice plus.
 
And of course, according to Bonnacorsi, Pitt fans are way more knowledgeable about wrestling than we are.
 
matter7172 said:
It makes a lot of sense, imo. Santoro has sort of hit a plateau at Lehigh and hasn't managed to top Cornell at the EIWAs for over 10 years. He's done well at Lehigh, but a new program for him might be a plus. Obviously, in addition, it's his alma mater and has added appeal for that.

Hughes getting the job at Lehigh would be a nice plus.
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While the support at Lehigh is great, Santoro is hampered by things that wouldn't come into play as much at Pitt - namely admissions. Actually, he'd probably be hampered less at Cornell as well. Only so far you can go at Lehigh and Santoro is probably topped out there.

I've never talked with anyone that did not have the utmost respect for the guy, he is a class act through and through. He is from D11 and being at Pitt would allow him to consider more prospects from that area and as a Pitt alum would kill it in D7.
 
Plus, Santoro building a strong program at Pitt might cut off the pipeline from Western PA to Iowa, which is something that irks me to no end. It would be like a win, win, win. ;)
 
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Pennstate1985 said:
Is the Pitt program fully funded?
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Yes. But one of their biggest issues is not having an RTC. The Pitt Wrestling Club has no graduate residents and does have a little money to send the varsity guys to an off-season freestyle tourney or a week at Colorado Springs.

It's basically a relic, back to the days when the college club merely kept the room doors open past March and maybe got a few area youth wrestlers together.
 
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El-Jefe said:
Yes. But one of their biggest issues is not having an RTC. The Pitt Wrestling Club has no graduate residents and does have a little money to send the varsity guys to an off-season freestyle tourney or a week at Colorado Springs.

It's basically a relic, back to the days when the college club merely kept the room doors open past March and maybe got a few area youth wrestlers together.
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Thanks. Will be difficult to get the elite of the elite without a RTC. It's an intangible that needs to be addressed by the program.
 
Pennstate1985 said:
Thanks. Will be difficult to get the elite of the elite without a RTC. It's an intangible that needs to be addressed by the program.
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He's got a top RTC where he is now. I would assume that there is no way this happens without this being addressed.
 
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El-Jefe said:
Yes. But one of their biggest issues is not having an RTC. The Pitt Wrestling Club has no graduate residents and does have a little money to send the varsity guys to an off-season freestyle tourney or a week at Colorado Springs.

It's basically a relic, back to the days when the college club merely kept the room doors open past March and maybe got a few area youth wrestlers together.
Click to expand...

I think Santoro could manage to bring one into Pitt's orbit.
 
dicemen99 said:
He's got a top RTC where he is now. I would assume that there is no way this happens without this being addressed.
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Is the Pitt admin that committed to the program to see this through over a 5-7 year period? I guess we will see. I agree that Santoro will want promises. If he gets hired, we'll know the answer.
 
dicemen99 said:
I've never talked with anyone that did not have the utmost respect for the guy, he is a class act through and through. He is from D11 and being at Pitt would allow him to consider more prospects from that area and as a Pitt alum would kill it in D7.
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Agreed but will add that recruiting hasn't been their biggest issue. Could be upgraded, but they've been getting a lot of good wrestlers.

A bigger problem is rampant under-performance once on campus. Guys getting into trouble, at the wrong weights, trouble adjusting to D1 wrestling, ... and the team not evolving with the rules changes (still blocking and boundary hugging).

Most of that is on the coaches: management, leadership, vision, setting expectations, culture, etc. Can be fixed -- and must if the program is to succeed.
 
Pennstate1985 said:
Thanks. Will be difficult to get the elite of the elite without a RTC. It's an intangible that needs to be addressed by the program.
Click to expand...

is it rediculous to think the RTC could be combined with PSU? too much travel... logistics..?
 
matter7172 said:
I think Santoro could manage to bring one into Pitt's orbit.
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Yes, if the school is committed. Considering the number of RTCs today, and how long they've been around, it's fair to ask if the 2 head coaches are the only 2 reasons it hasn't happened yet.
 
a_mshaffer said:
is it rediculous to think the RTC could be combined with PSU? too much travel... logistics..?
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Yes, too far away. And why would PSU agree to do that? Visit for a couple days here and there, sure. Combine, don't see it.
 
That would be outstanding. Yes, Pitt needs to be relevant in wrestling.... we need more competitive programs to grow the sport. It's as popular as ever and getting bigger. Seems to have coincided with Cael's move east. Look at the national team. More on the way, too. Almost beat Iran.
 
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a_mshaffer said:
is it rediculous to think the RTC could be combined with PSU? too much travel... logistics..?
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I see no reason why Pitt's program should gain traction off the blood, sweat, and tears of PSU's staff and admin. I know that sounds selfish, and it is. Pitt needs to commit to wrestling plain and simple.
 
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Pennstate1985 said:
I see no reason why Pitt's program should gain traction off the blood, sweat, and tears of PSU's staff and admin. I know that sounds selfish, and it is. Pitt needs to commit to wrestling plain and simple.
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And besides, Pitt has enough blood and tears of their own. (Sorry, too easy!)
 
El-Jefe said:
Yes. But one of their biggest issues is not having an RTC. The Pitt Wrestling Club has no graduate residents and does have a little money to send the varsity guys to an off-season freestyle tourney or a week at Colorado Springs.

It's basically a relic, back to the days when the college club merely kept the room doors open past March and maybe got a few area youth wrestlers together.
Click to expand...

But is it one of those weird "fully funded" situations where it is for in-state kids but not if they had out of state kids in the lineup.
 
...what no one has mentioned is the fact that Santoro is really a Bethlehem native, his father was a Lehigh captain and his roots are much deeper in Bethlehem than the few years he spent at Pitt...
... I think Pitt would do better to hire John Hughes as head coach ... he has done most of Lehigh's recruiting over the years and is a fierce competitor...
 
matter7172 said:
Plus, Santoro building a strong program at Pitt might cut off the pipeline from Western PA to Iowa, which is something that irks me to no end. It would be like a win, win, win. ;)
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Perhaps I'm in the minority, but that doesn't bother me all that much. PSU recruits wrestlers on a national level, and has proven that they can take elite prospects from pretty much anywhere in the country. Plus, I'm happy for PA wrestlers that excel in college, wherever that college is located.

Iowa's current roster includes the following Western PA guys:

Michael Kemerer & Kaleb Young

Kemerer is an excellent wrestler, but he'd be sitting on the bench at PSU, with Nolf in front of him for 2 more years. Even if he moved up in weight, he'd be looking at fighting with Joseph, who has 3 more years of eligibility. At best, it would be a wash. Young is interesting, in that he didn't really put it together until his senior year. And if he were at PSU, he'd be sitting behind Hall for 3 years, and if he gained weight he'd be sitting behind Nickal for 2 years. While both of these guys will help Iowa, it's not as though PSU wanted them but didn't land them.

If you look at Iowa's incoming class, they have Spencer Lee and Max Murin. Spencer's decision did hurt; I really would have liked to see him at PSU. Murin is an interesting prospect, but I don't see him beating Cortez at 133 or being a better prospect than Nick Lee at 141.

If you look at the 2018 class, Iowa has a verbal from Gavin Teasdale. That still surprises me. He will be an excellent wrestler for Iowa, if that's where he ends up. ;)

Pitt in its current situation would not have been a player for Lee, Kemerer, Teasdale, and I doubt they were a major factor for the other guys listed.

An upgraded Pitt program would be a player for any guys from Western PA, though even with a home-run hire and a commitment from Pitt, I think it will be a few years before they are a major player for the top guys from Western PA.

PSU's roster is still loaded with PA prospects, and PSU has gotten most of the top PA prospects they have recruited in recent years. Lee's decision last April changed that dynamic a good bit. Teasdale, who decided at the same time, was a 1-2 punch.

A revived Pitt program would be good for the sport, and would make lots of programs work harder to land Western PA prospects.
 
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dunkej01 said:
But is it one of those weird "fully funded" situations where it is for in-state kids but not if they had out of state kids in the lineup.
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Which goes right back to those icky vision and leadership and commitment things.

Of course, 9.9 PA rides should be plenty to surpass 6th place in the 6 team ACC.
 
androcles said:
...what no one has mentioned is the fact that Santoro is really a Bethlehem native, his father was a Lehigh captain and his roots are much deeper in Bethlehem than the few years he spent at Pitt...
... I think Pitt would do better to hire John Hughes as head coach ... he has done most of Lehigh's recruiting over the years and is a fierce competitor...
Click to expand...
Did not mention it but that was one if the reasons I thiught it unlikely when I heard it. Additionally he must be mid 50s now. A little older to be making this move.

But the source was someone more connected than me. Of course he was just repeating something that he heard
 
dicemen99 said:
Did not mention it but that was one if the reasons I thiught it unlikely when I heard it. Additionally he must be mid 50s now. A little older to be making this move.

But the source was someone more connected than me. Of course he was just repeating something that he heard
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I didn't mention it because IDK how much of a factor it would be in this case.

Age may be a factor in Pitt's favor -- sometimes it's easier to move after the kids reach a certain age.
 
There isn't a peep on the Pitt board. They would be salivating over this rumor. It has been discussed and dismissed there.
 
I also heard that Santoro is near the top of the list... but it's not a done deal. There's another name being tossed around that would cause quite the stir, if true.
 
Pitt should be able to attract a very good coach provided the administration puts forth the effort. Fully funded, good academics without overly difficult admissions and located in a very strong recruiting area. Throw in what Cael has accomplished at Penn State and I could see a relatively big name taking the job.

I think a strong Pitt would probable hurt Iowa and tOSU more then PSU.
 
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Flying_Tiger said:
Pitt should be able to attract a very good coach provided the administration puts forth the effort. Fully funded, good academics without overly difficult admissions and located in a very strong recruiting area. Throw in what Cael has accomplished at Penn State and I could see a relatively big name taking the job.

I think a strong Pitt would probable hurt Iowa and tOSU more then PSU.
Click to expand...

a healthy sPitt is good for PSU on many levels.
 
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