Head Coach: Mr. Dave Crowell

Email: CoachCrowell@NazarethWrestling.com

Website: Dave Crowell Coaching

Dave Crowell begins his eighth 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 111-34, two District XI Tournament Championships, a PIAA Individual State Championship, and a PIAA State Team Championship - each of these championships being a first for Nazareth.  Three of Crowell's teams have been ranked nationally with the 2006-07 team being ranked as high as fourth. 

Crowell owns an overall career coaching record of 386-92-1 in 25 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 eight years as the head coach of the Blue Eagles stands at 111-34.  While at Nazareth, Crowell's teams have won three 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.  In all, the Blue Eagles have qualified for the state dual meet championships 4 out of 6 years.  He has also coached five state champions, 24 state place winners, 19 regional champions and 21 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 24-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.  Two of his teams have also won sportsmanship awards at the Beast of the East tournament.  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.

Dave is fully involved with wrestling throughout the year.  In addition to running spring, summer, and fall workouts for his athletes in preparation for the next season, he instructs at wrestling clinics around the country.  Crowell also provides coaching education opportunities for wrestling coaches through a unique clinic format.  "Dave Crowell's Winning Wrestling System" has provided individualized seminars, clinics and consultations for coaches throughout the country fort the past eight years.  He has been invited to give coaches' clinics at the NCAA Tournament, the National Wrestling Coaches Association National Convention, as well as State Coaches' Conventions in Utah, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida, and California.  He is currently involved in several projects for the National Wrestling Coaches Association providing coaching education  and certification. He is a Coaching Development Consultant for the NWCA.  Crowell also provides coaching education opportunities for the coaches of all sports through "Dave Crowell's Coaching Services" and his "Excellence in Coaching Consultations Coaching Education Programs."  Information on all of Dave Crowell's coaching education programs can be found online at: www.DaveCrowellCoaching.com

In June 2009, Dave retired after 33 years as a health and physical education teacher in the Easton Area School District. He lives in Forks Township with his wife Jackie (a teacher in the Easton Area School District), and their three children.  Daughter Casey is in her third year as an English teacher at Wilson Area High School .  Son David (20) is a red-shirt junior wrestler at Penn State University after transferring from the University of Pittsburgh in January 2009.  He becomes eligible to compete in late December 2009 and is majoring in Human Development and Family Studies.  Son Colin (11) is a sixith grade student at Easton Area Middle School and wrestles for Forks Twp.  A daughter, Michelle, is also a teacher at City Charter High School in Pittsburgh and lives in Swissvale, which is outside 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;  Fourteen conference/league titles.
Individual Championships: 15 state champions;  64 state place winners;  51 regional champions;  64 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 Coaching Records

 Varsity Assistants

Adam Colombo

A 1993 Nazareth graduate, Adam wrestled and coached under Ray Nunamaker.  He was a 1992 Christmas City Champion, 1993 District XI Champions, 1993 Northeast Regional Runner-Up, 1993 PIAA State Qualifier and Co-Captain his Senior year.  Adam attended Kutztown University and wrestled under Pat Tocci.  This will be his eighteenth year as Varsity Assistant Coach at Nazareth.  At the end of the 2004 season, Adam received the District XI Assistant Coach of the Year and Pennsylvania State Assistant Coach of the Year awards.  In 2007, Adam was named the NWCA Assistant Coach of the Year.

 

Derek Deutsch

Derek is entering his 3rd season as assistant coach at Nazareth. He is a 2004 graduate of Nazareth High School, where he was a 2 year letter winner in wrestling.  In 2003, he qualified for the PIAA State Tournament.  His senior year was Dave Crowell's first as head coach of the Blue Eagles.  A serious elbow injury suffered at the Virginia Duals unfortunately brought his senior year of wrestling to a premature end.  Derek attended Shippensburg University where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics in 2008.  He was a member of the Shippensburg wrestling team for two years.  Derek is currently teaching Algebra and Pre-Calculus at Nazareth High School.

Mike Frick

Mike was a three-time New Jersey State Champion for Pope John High School.  He went on to attend Lehigh University where he was a two-time NCAA Division 1 National Champion. Mike was voted Outstanding Wrestler at the 1975 NCAA Championships. While at Lehigh, he compiled a career record of 86-9-4. He received the Fletcher Memorial Trophy in 1976 and is a member of the Penske Lehigh Hall of Fame.

Mike's coaching career also includes two years as an assistant at the U.S. Naval Academy, two years as head coach at Belvidere High School, and one year as head coach at William Allen High School.

Mike's coaching career at Nazareth began in 1994 and continued through 2006.  During his time, he served as head Junior High coach for eight years beginning in 1998.  From 1998-2002 Mike's teams had a combined record of 80-1.  His 1999, 2000, and 2002 teams went undefeated and were all ranked as the #1 team in Pennsylvania. He was voted both District XI and Pennsylvania State Junior High Coach of the Year in 2004. 

Mike is the #37 all-time greatest athlete on the Express-Times' Top 100 Sports People of the Century list.

Joe Provini

Joe is a 2003 graduate of Nazareth High School, where he was a 4 year varsity starter.  He was a 2003 District XI Champion, a 2003 Bethlehem Holiday Classic Runner-Up, and a 2002 PIAA State 6th Place Finisher medalist.  Joe compiled 103 career victoried and was named 2003 District XI Wrestling Scholar Athlete.  After high school, he attended Shippensburg University where he was a Division II National Qualifier.  Joe is currently pursuing a Secondary Education Social Studies degree from East Stroudsburg University.

 

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