Thiel College wrestling coach recognized for role as first endowed coach in school history

GREENVILLE, Pa.—Craig Thurber was recently recognized as the Rod E. Wilt ’86 Head Coach for Thiel College Wrestling at Thiel College’s Academic Honors Convocation recently.

Thurber, who is also an Adjunct Professor of Health and Physical Education, recently completed his 21st season as Thiel’s wrestling coach. Since taking over the Tomcat program in 2003, Thurber has led the Tomcats to 11 Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships.

Thurber is a 1991 graduate of Greenville High School where he won a state championship in 1991 and was runner-up in 1990 at 171 pounds. He then matriculated to the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown where he earned a B.A. in social sciences in 1996. Thiel Athletic Hall of Fame member Rod Wilt ’86 and his wife, Jill (Gardner) Wilt ’85, made the donation to endow the head wrestling coach position at the College in 2015, and Thurber is the only coach to hold the position. It is the largest donation to any single athletic program in Thiel history, and the first endowed coaching position in the history of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.

Each of the College’s five endowed positions were recognized during the Feb. 9 ceremony.

The four other endowed positions are:

• Professor of English Mary Theresa Hall, Ph.D. was awarded the Dr. James Pedas ’50 H’89 Chair of Communication;
• Assistant Professor of Business Administration and Accounting Steven Kandray was named the Norman P. Mortensen H ’81 Chair of Economics;
• Associate Professor of History Sheila Nowinski, Ph.D. was recognized with the Kenneth ’31 and Marianna Brown ’32 Dietrich Honors Institute Chair; and
• Professor of Business Administration and Accounting and Chair of the Arthur McGonigal Department of Business Administration and Accounting Melissa Oakes ’03 was awarded the David M. Miller ’61 H’20 Endowed Chair of Accounting.

Related Links

• Thiel Athletics
• Thiel Tomcat Wrestling

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About Thiel College

Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.