Ken Nellis, the head wrestling coach at Clarion University from 1998-2006, an assistant coach with the Golden Eagles from 91-97 and a wrestler at Clarion from 1982-86, resigned from his position today.
Nellis will remain as head coach through the EWL (Eastern Wrestling League) Championships March 4-5 at Edinboro, and through the NCAA Division I Championships at Oklahoma City March 16-18. He will continue with his regular duties until a new head coach is named, including preparing for the Summer Wrestling Camp season. Nellis is contracted through July.
“I have accepted Ken’s resignation as head wrestling coach at Clarion,” said President Joseph P. Grunenwald. “We thank Ken for his hard work and dedicated service for nine years as head coach, seven years as assistant coach and his time as a student athlete. We wish Ken and his family all the best in their future endeavors.”
The search process for a new head wrestling coach will begin immediately. “We will immediately form a search committee and conduct a nationwide search for his replacement,” acknowledged Dr. Grunenwald. “Clarion has a rich tradition in NCAA Division I Wrestling circles and we recognize the special place that tradition holds at the university, in our community and to our alumni and friends. We have every intention of continuing and building on that tradition here at Clarion.”
Nellis, 43, has spent a total of 21 years being involved in Clarion’s wrestling tradition. As a wrestler he put together a 113-28-5 individual record and was a 4-time NCAA Division I National Qualifier. A three-time PSAC individual Champion and a 4-time runner-up at EWL’s, Nellis was a co-captain of the famous 1986 team that was ranked third in the nation in Division I and finished the year with a 17-0-1 dual meet record.
He returned to Clarion in the 1990-91 season as an assistant coach under Bob Bubb, then became the first assistant under head coach Jack Davis starting the 1992-93 campaign.
After Davis stepped down following the 1997 season, Nellis was named head coach and continued in that capacity until today. He has a career dual meet record of 47-89-3. His top season came in 2001 when the Eagles were 11-3 overall, 5-2 in the EWL, and placed 4th at EWL’s. Nellis coached 7 NCAA Division I All-Americans, 11 EWL Champions, and 16 PSAC winners.
“I’d first like to thank Bob Carlson and Dave Katis (Clarion AD’s) for the opportunity to be the head coach at my alma mater,” said Nellis. “I’d also like to thank my assistants, Rob Eiter, Tony Purler, Jason Robison and Tom Tomeo for all their help, and the student athletes it has been my privilege to coach. I’d also like to thank the Pin Club, because without their help and support, there are a lot of things we wouldn’t be able to accomplish. Clarion wrestling will remain very close to me,” he continued. “I have cherished my time with the program, and will continue to support the wrestling program in every way possible to ensure its success.”
Said Clarion AD Dave Katis – “Ken is all Clarion in everything he has done. I respect and admire his dedication and service to Clarion. He has given his heart and soul to Clarion and we will be forever grateful.”
CLARION NOTES: Nellis is a native of Glenshaw, Pa. And Shaler High School …. He was a two-time PIAA Class AAA State Champion and had a high school record of 124-3 … He was selected to participate in the Pittsburgh Press Wrestling Classic… He earned his degree in Business Management from Clarion in 1986 … Clarion has a rich tradition in NCAA Division I Wrestling …. The program was started in the 1959-60 season under head coach Frank Lignelli … Lignelli was the coach from 1960-66 with a record of 61-12… He passed the torch to Bob Bubb, who from 1966-92, put Clarion wrestling on the national stage… Bubb had a career record of 322-121-4 … Bubb led Clarion to a 4th place team finish at D-I nationals in 1973, sixth in 1972 and 87 and eighth in 1992, his final season… Bubb coached 7 D-I champions, 3 college division champs, 27 All-Americans, 29 EWL winners and 68 PSAC champs … Bubb will be remembered for two special athletes, namely Wade Schalles and Kurt Angle… Both were named to the NCAA/NWCA 75th Anniversary Team last March …. Schalles had an amazing career record of 153-5-1, won 2 NCAA titles and posted an NCAA record 106 pins … Angle also was a 2-time NCAA D-I Champion, posted a record of 116-10-2 and also won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1996 …. On June 4, 2005, Bubb was inducted into the NationalWrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma …. Jack Davis was Clarion’s head coach from 1993-97 with a record of 43-34-5 and then Nellis … Davis was also a long-time assistant at Clarion under Bubb … He was the assistant for 17 years before becoming the head coach in 1992… Since the 1960 season Clarion has a dual meet record of 473-255-12 … Clarion has 8 D-I National Champions, 43 All-Americans, 51 EWL winners and 106 PSAC Champions… That also includes 13 PSAC and 3 EWL team titles…
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