UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; May 20, 2024 – Penn State wrestling head coach Cael Sanderson has appointed former Nittany Lion Nick Lee as an assistant coach. Lee, a five-time All-American and World Team member, recently finished as runner-up at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in April.
Lee’s tenure at Penn State is marked by outstanding achievements. He became Penn State’s first five-time All-American in 2022 and secured his second consecutive NCAA National Championship at 141 pounds that year. Lee contributed to three NCAA team championships and achieved five podium finishes. His individual NCAA performances include a 5th place in 2018 and 2019, a first team All-American status in 2020 (when the tournament was cancelled), and NCAA titles in 2021 and 2022.
Originally from Evansville, Ind., Lee had an impressive college career with a 118-13 overall record, 18 falls, 27 technical falls, and 40 major decisions. He won the Big Ten Championship in 2022 and amassed 226 dual meet points, maintaining a 55-2 dual meet record.
Academically, Lee was a four-time NWCA First Team National All-Academic Selection, a three-time Academic All-Big Ten winner, and a CoSIDA Academic All-American. He was also a 2022 Hodge Trophy Award Finalist, placing third.
In freestyle wrestling, Lee has earned multiple accolades, including his third spot on the U.S. National Team at 65 kg this season and membership in the 2023 U.S. World Team. He was the 2023 U.S. Open Champion and the 2023 Final X Champion.
Penn State Wrestling, under Sanderson, continues to excel with 11 NCAA team championships in the last 13 events. The Nittany Lions boast 38 individual NCAA titles, 56 NCAA finalists, and a dominant presence in the national semifinals with a 56-8 record. The team is the only one to win an NCAA title at each weight class in the last decade and to have two athletes win a fourth NCAA title in the same season.
