As the school year comes to a close and the summer begins, Waynesburg University has put in their next head coach for the men’s wrestling program, as Bobby Patnesky was publicly announced as the individual to take over the program.

Following three seasons under Aaron McKinney, Patnesky takes over a program that is returning PAC Champion and Region IV placer at 174 lbs, Jesse Orbin. 

“We have had great conversations and have a shared vision for the wrestling program for the future,” Waynesburg University Athletic Director Timothy Fusina said regarding the hire of Patnesky, noting the expectations he and the new hire have for the program. “We believe the program needs to get back to where it was and that starts with recruiting.”

When it comes to his top competitor returning, Orbin seems just as optimistic that Patnesky is going to bring a great deal of experience and knowledge to the team. 

“I’m super excited to bring coach in. I’ve known about him for sometime. I’ve always heard the name before,” Orbin said, speaking to his time in high school and remembering Patnesky’s history with WPIAL wrestling. “I’ve seen it on Canon Mac’s walls, he is from the town over, so it’s super exciting.”

Patnesky is coming in with experience in the sports that spans across several years with several institutions and teams. According to a release published on the Waynesburg Unievrsity Athletics website, as a competitor at Canon McMillan High School, he was a WPIAL champion, a three-time Junior Nationals All-American and a Junior Nationals finalist. In college, he wrestled at West Virginia University and went on to win 100 matches and qualify for the National tournament on three occasions. As a coach, he spent 12 years as the head coach at NCAA Division I Davidson and five years at Penn State Behrend, with him getting five wrestlers from Davidson to Nationals and getting one from Penn State Behrend in just the programs second year back. As an assistant, he served as an assistant coach for Davidson for one season, as well as spending two years as an assistant at Ohio University and WVU for a short time.

“He has been coaching a long time. He has revived a couple programs already. I’m excited to see where he takes me,” Orbin said when it comes to what he believes Patnesky can do for the program, as well as for himself as he chases his goal of adding himself to the list of wrestlers Patnesky helped guide to the National tournament.