Wrestling Coach Closing in on 500th Win

Head Coach Dave Icenhower MA ’78 has amassed a slew of honors during his three-plus decades at the helm of the Lions’ wrestling program, but his pursuit of 500 victories puts him in select company.

Words by TCNJ's editorial staff

Head Coach Dave Icenhower MA ’78 has amassed a slew of honors during his three-plus decades at the helm of the Lions’ wrestling program. He has produced five NCAA Division III team championship winners, beginning with the 1979 team, which achieved the College’s first NCAA crown. Six of his squads have finished the season undefeated, and overall his teams have finished in the top five nationally during 19 of his 32 seasons.

Under Icenhower’s direction, Lion wrestling teams have won 26 of the last 31 Metropolitan (Met) Conference championships, including 14 in a row from 1984 until 1998, and have won 10 New Jersey Athletics Conference championships outright, while tying for an 11th.

Icenhower was named the Division III Coach-of-the-Year in 1979 and 1987, and was cited as the Met’s Coach-of-the-Year 14 times. At the 1999 NCAA Championships, he was inducted into the NWCA Division III Hall of Fame, and joined an elite club of just four coaches in all divisions that have coached over 100 NCAA All-Americans.

This season, Icenhower is chasing another milestone: his 500th win as a wrestling coach, which could come as early as this month. Visit www.tcnjathletics.com for the latest on Icenhower’s pursuit of 500 victories.