Former Penn State National Champion and four-time All-American Frank Molinaro has returned to Happy Valley as an assistant coach and is in his first season on the Lion staff. One of Penn State[apos]s all-time greats, Molinaro joins head coach Cael Sanderson[apos]s staff after two years as an assistant at Rutgers.
Molinaro closed out a stellar Penn State career in 2012 with an undefeated senior campaign. He posted a 33-0 record, including 11 majors, seven tech falls and four pins. Molinaro won his second straight Big Ten 149-pound title in Purdue and then followed that up by claiming the NCAA title in St. Louis with a decisive 4-1 win over Minnesota[apos]s Dylan Ness. Molinaro earned 2012 Big Ten Championship Most Outstanding Wrestler honors as well that year. He left Penn State as the school[apos]s fifth four-time All-American with a 121-29 career record.
As a junior, Molinaro went 32-3 this season and advanced to the NCAA finals at 149. He ended his junior year as the 2011 NCAA National Runner-Up and the 2011 Big Ten Champion at 149, thus earning first team All-Big Ten laurels. During his sophomore year, Molinaro went 32-3 and placed fifth at NCAAs in his first season at 149. Molinaro went 23-19 as a red-shirt freshman and went from an unseeded grappler to an eight-place All-America finish at 141 pounds.
He left Penn State as a two-time Big Ten Champion, a four-time All-American, a two-time NCAA finalist and one-time National Champion. He is currently 10th on Penn State[apos]s all-time wins list with 121 and 11th on the all-time matches wrestled list with 150. Molinaro is tied for seventh on Penn State[apos]s all-time NCAA tournament win list with 17.
Molinaro began his collegiate coaching career at Rutgers in 2011-12 and spent two years with the Scarlet Knights. During his time with Rutgers, he assisted in coaching the school[apos]s first All-American since 2002.
Molinaro is married to Kera (Bolen) Molinaro, an assistant coach with the Penn State women[apos]s gymnastics team.
THE MOLINARO FILE
Birthday: December 27, 1988
Birthplace: Redbank, N.J.
Hometown: Barnegat, N.J.
Alma Mater: Penn State, 2012
Spouse: Kera
COACHING EXPERIENCE
*2015-Prsnt: Assistant Coach, Penn State
*2012-2014: Assistant Coach, Rutgers