Head Coach: Mr. Dave Crowell

Email: CoachCrowell@NazarethWrestling.com

Dave Crowell begins his fifth year as the head coach of the Nazareth Area High School wrestling program and is only the seventh head wrestling coach since the program began in 1949.  He has managed to continue the storied tradition at Nazareth bringing them back into the national spotlight they enjoyed during the 1990's under legendary Hall-of-Fame coach Ray Nunamaker.  Since taking over the reins, Crowell has guided the Blue Eagles to an overall record of 75-16, two District XI tournament titles, three state dual meet appearances, an individual state title and a team state dual meet title - each of these championships being a first for Nazareth.  The last three of Crowell's teams have been ranked nationally with the 2006-07 team being ranked as high as fourth.  The past two championship seasons have compiled identical 22-2 records.

The 2006-07 campaign produce some truly amazing performances by the Blue Eagles. Besides winning their own Nazareth Invitational with eight individual champions, they finished as runners up in the Beast of the East Tournament which is considered by many as the toughest high school tournament in the country. A little over a week later, Nazareth once again finished second to Blair Academy but this time at the Bethlehem Holiday Classic. Mid-January found the Blue & White winning the Virginia Duals with a thrilling 32-31  victory over nationally ranked Christiansburg, VA in the final match.

Other highlights included a 30-28 dual meet win over perennial rival Easton.  The disappointment of a narrow loss to Easton in the District XI Dual meet finals was erased a week later when the Blue Eagles dominated the Red Rovers in the state dual meet finals with a stunning and satisfying 40-21 victory to secure Nazareth's first ever state dual meet championship.

The post season saw Nazareth dominate the district tournament with seven individual champions and all 14 wrestlers qualifying for regionals.  The regional tournament a week later saw the Blue Eagles crown an amazing six individual gold medalists.  The following weekend saw Nazareth leave the state tournament with five medals.  They crowned one champion, two runners up, a fourth and a seventh place finisher in all. Crowell was honored at the state tournament by being voted the PIAA State Coach of the Year by the PA Wrestling Coaches Association.  This was the 5th time in his coaching career that he has garnered state coach of the year honors.

Crowell owns an overall career coaching record of 350-74-1 in 22 years as a head coach.  After stints as the head coach at Easton (1977-84) and Wilson (1992-03), Crowell came to Nazareth in May 2003.  His record over the past four years as the head coach of the Blue Eagles stands at 75-16.  While at Nazareth, Crowell's teams have won two league championships, two district tournament titles, one district dual meet championship, two regional tournament crowns, a state individual tournament championship and a state dual meet title.  He has also coached five state champions, 18 state place winners, 14 regional champions and 17 district champions.

Before coming to Nazareth, Crowell coached at Wilson Area High School for eleven years.  During that time (1992-2003), his teams had a combined record of 170-45.  These teams also won two state tournaments one of which set the current record for the most points ever scored in a AA state tournament (132).  His teams at Wilson also won two state dual meet championships, four regional tournaments, five district tournaments, five district dual meet crowns and six league titles.  In addition, Crowell coached Wilson wrestlers to five state championships, 28 state medals, 18 regional championships, and 24 district crowns. 

Crowell's first head coaching position began at Easton in 1977 after serving one year as an assistant.  His seven years as head coach of the Red Rovers (1977-84) produced a record of 105-13-1, four league titles, four district championships, one regional title and two state individual tournament championships.  He also coached four state champions including eventual 2-time NCAA champion Jack Cuvo.  In all, his Easton wrestlers won 11 state medals and crowned 10 regional champions as well as 17 district champs.

During his 22-year coaching career, Crowell has been named District XI Coach of the Year nine times and Pennsylvania State Coach of the Year five times.  He was also named national coach of the year on two separate occasions (2001 & 2007).  His teams have been not only successful but have been good role models along the way evidenced by the fact that they have won District XI sportsmanship awards on five separate occasions including two at Nazareth in 2004 and 2007.  In 2004 Crowell became the only coach in PA history to coach at least one state champion at three different schools and in 2006 became the only one to coach three schools to state titles.

Prior to coming to the Lehigh Valley, Crowell served as an assistant coach at Lock Haven University (1975-76) where he also competed as a wrestler (1971-75).  While a student-athlete at LHU, Crowell was a two-time PSAC place winner and also served as team captain during his senior year.  He hails from Corry, PA where he was a District 10 runner up.

Crowell is active with wrestling during the "off season."  Besides running spring, summer and fall workouts for his Nazareth wrestlers, he keeps himself busy by instructing at various wrestling clinics.  In addition, Crowell founded a unique clinic/consultation format which is available for coaches.  "Dave Crowell's Winning Wrestling System" has provided seminars, clinics and consultations for coaches throughout the country for the past five years.  He has been invited to do coaches' clinics at the NCAA tournament as well as state coaches' conventions in Utah, Virginia and Pennsylvania,  He is also involved in several projects for the National Wrestling Coaches Association and its goal of providing coaching education for interested wrestling coaches.  

Crowell is currently in his 32nd year teaching health and physical education in the Easton Area School District. He lives in Forks Township with his wife Jackie, and their three children.  Casey (22) will graduate with an education degree in secondary English from Kutztown University in December 2007.  David (18) is a freshman wrestler at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in business.  Colin (9) is a third grade student at Tracy Elementary School in Forks Township and a wrestler for Forks Twp.  A daughter, Michelle, is also a teacher and lives in Pittsburgh.

Crowell's Quick Facts
Full Name:  David Allen Crowell
Born:  December 19, 1953
Hometown:  Corry, PA
High School:  Corry Area
Alma Mater:  Lock Haven University, '75 (B.S. in  Health, Physical Education & Recreation)
Wrestling Career:  2-time PSAC place winner
Married:  to the former Jackie Ciccarelli, graduate of Chestnut Hill College
Children:  Sons:  David and Colin; and daughters:  Casey and Michelle
Coaching Career:  Assistant Coach, Lock Haven University, 1975-76; Assistant Coach, Easton Area High School, 1976-77;  Head Coach, Easton Area High School, 1977-84;  Head Coach, Wilson Area High School, 1992-03;  Head Coach, Nazareth Area High School, 2003-present
Assisted Under:  Dr. Kenneth Cox (Lock Haven University); Bob Zarbatany (Easton Area H.S.)
Accolades:  Five times named Pennsylvania State Coach of the Year (1981, 1983, 2001, 2002, 2007);  NWCA National Coach of the Year in 2007; NWCA State Coach of the Year in 2007;  NHSCA National Coach of the Year in 2001;  Nine times named District Coach of the year;  Inducted into PA Wrestling Coaches Association State Hall of Fame in 2006;  District XI Wrestling Hall of Fame;  Teams have won five District XI Wrestling Sportsmanship Awards (voted by referees); 
Team Championships:  Five individual state tournament championships (1981, 1983, 2002, 2003, 2007);  Three dual meet state championships (2001, 2002, 2007);  Eleven district tournament titles;  Six district dual meet titles;  Twelve conference/league titles.
Individual Championships:  14 state champions;  57 state place winners;  42 regional champions;  58 district champions
State Milestones Set:  Currently the only wrestling coach in Pennsylvania to:  Coach at least one state champion at three different school;  Win at least one state individual tournament at three different schools;  Win at least one state team tournament at two different schools;  Be voted state coach of the year five different times;  Be voted state Coach of the Year while coaching at three different schools; Be voted state Coach of the Year in both the AAA and AA divisions. 

Crowell's Career Record

 Varsity Assistants

Adam Colombo

Coach Colombo is a 1993 graduate of Nazareth High School, and he will begin his tenth year of coaching at his alma mater. Adam has served as both an assistant to the Varsity team and Head Junior Varsity coach.  Adam was an outstanding wrestler during his high school years, and was a 1993 District XI Champion and a State qualifier.  Adam attended East Stroudsburg University.

 

Shawn McEntire

Coach McEntire is a 1996 graduate of Nazareth High School where, during his senior year, he was a captain for the Blue Eagles. Shawn was a State qualifier, and after graduation he attended Lock Haven University where he wrestled for 3 years.  Shawn served as an assistant Junior High Wrestling coach at Central Mountain for three seasons.  Upon graduation from Lock Haven, he began teaching at Tracy Elementary School and coaching the Blue Eagles.

 

Jeremy Messinger

2000 Naz. grad, 4-year letter winner, team capt. in 1999-00, 1999
regional runnerup at 125 lbs., 1999 Powerade Tourn. champ
2004 Delaware Valley College grad, 4-year letter winner, team capt.
last 3 years, 2x Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) runner up,
Currently employed by Victaulic Company of America in Forks Twp.

 

Junior High Coaches