Valenti Promoted to Top Assistant Coach of Wrestling
8/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
NEW YORK, N.Y. ? Matt Valenti has been named the primary assistant coach at Columbia after spending last season as the second assistant, announced head coach Brendan Buckley.
"I am proud to announce that Matt has been promoted to the first assistant coach position for our program,” said Buckley, the Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling. “Although only in his second year in the coaching ranks, he has proven himself to not only be a terrific wrestler but a great motivator and role model for our athletes.”
"I am excited and proud to take on this new role on the Columbia
coaching staff," said Valenti. "After one year under Coach Buckley, I feel I
have a good grasp of our team and our program, and I look forward to
the coming years. Our program is ready to break through to the next
level and being a part of that will undoubtedly be a rewarding and
fulfilling experience."
Valenti is no stranger to the Ivy League wrestling world. As one of the
most decorated wrestlers in Ivy League history, Valenti was a two-time national champion at the University of Pennsylvania.
He finished
his career with a program-record 137 wins, including a 32-2 record as a
senior. A three-time Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association champion, Valenti was twice honored as the
EIWA Wrestler of the Year. He was also the unanimous choice as Ivy
League Wrestler of the Year in 2007, and was a three-time All-Ivy
League first team selection.
“Matt did a wonderful job with our lightweights this past year,” Buckley continued. “Having a two-time NCAA champion in Matt on our staff gives us the ability to recruit top-notch lightweights to Columbia. It is an
incredible opportunity for any lightweight wrestler to be able to work out with him each and every day."
Valenti, who hails from Newton, N.J., graduated from Penn in 2007 with a B.A. in history. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in Sports Management at Columbia.
