FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pennsylvania Regional Training Center Names Pat Santoro Head Coach

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Pennsylvania Regional Training Center (PRTC) is proud to announce the hiring of Pat Santoro as the organization's next Head Coach.

One of the most accomplished coaches in collegiate wrestling, Santoro brings more than three decades of coaching experience and a proven track record of developing champions at the collegiate, national, and international levels. Most recently, Santoro served as the Lawrence E. White '64 Head Wrestling Coach at Lehigh University, where he built one of the nation's premier programs and established the Mountain Hawks as a perennial contender on the national stage.

During his tenure at Lehigh, Santoro led the program to multiple EIWA team championships, earned numerous conference and national coaching honors, coached NCAA champions and dozens of All-Americans, and guided the Mountain Hawks to consistent top national finishes. Prior to his success at Lehigh, Santoro served as head coach at the University of Maryland, where he led the Terrapins to their first ACC Championship in 35 years and was named ACC Coach of the Year.

As an athlete, Santoro was one of the most accomplished wrestlers in University of Pittsburgh history. A four-time NCAA All-American and two-time NCAA Champion, he later represented the United States on the international stage as a four-time member of the U.S. National Team and an Olympic Team alternate. He was inducted into the University of Pittsburgh Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to join the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center and begin the next chapter,” said Santoro. “Wrestling has always been about relationships, growth, and helping athletes reach their potential, and I’m excited to continue doing what I love in a new environment. This next step allows me to spend more time in the room, stay closely connected to the development process, and help athletes. I’m excited to help Matt with his vision for the PRTC.”

PRTC President Nick Matteo believes Santoro's leadership and vision make him the ideal person to guide the organization's next chapter.

“We are thrilled to welcome Pat Santoro as the next head coach of the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center,” Matteo said. “Pat’s elite character, integrity, and proven coaching acumen align perfectly with our mission. His leadership will elevate Penn Wrestling, inspire our athletes, and create lasting, meaningful impact across the Philadelphia Wrestling Ecosystem for years to come.”

University of Pennsylvania Head Wrestling Coach Matt Valenti expressed excitement about the impact Santoro will have on both the PRTC, the University of Pennsylvania, and the broader Philadelphia wrestling community.

“Pat’s arrival changes the landscape,” said Valenti. “His standard of excellence is exactly what pushes a room from good to great. At the highest levels of this sport, you win with world-class people. Pat Santoro embodies the integrity, technical mastery, and elite culture that will elevate the PRTC, Penn Wrestling, and the broader Philadelphia Wrestling Ecosystem.”

Santoro will oversee all aspects of the PRTC's high-performance freestyle wrestling program, working with Senior, U23, and U20 level athletes pursuing World and Olympic success while continuing to strengthen the organization's mission of enriching lives locally and globally through the sport of wrestling.

The Pennsylvania Regional Training Center has established itself as one of the nation's leading Olympic style wrestling training centers, developing World Team members, Pan American champions, NCAA All-Americans, and future leaders in the sport. Santoro's arrival marks a significant step forward as the organization continues its pursuit of excellence on the national and international stage.

About the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center

The Pennsylvania Regional Training Center (PRTC) is a USA Wrestling Regional Training Center based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2014, the PRTC develops elite freestyle wrestlers while supporting the growth of wrestling throughout the region and advancing its mission of enriching lives locally and globally through the sport of wrestling.

All media inquiries, please contact Kevin McGuigan - (856) 217-6916, kevin@pennsylvaniartc.org