NC State Adds McDonald to Coaching Staff

The NC State Wolfpack welcomed back a familiar face today as they announced that Malik McDonald was returning to Raleigh to join the coaching staff. McDonald is an NC State alum who just finished his fourth year on the Kent State coaching staff. 

While at NC State, McDonald was a two-time NCAA qualifier competing at 197 lbs. As a senior, McDonald captured an ACC title and was seeded 13th at the 2019 NCAA Championships. The previous season, he was a member of the NC State team that tied for fourth place in the nation and brought home a team trophy from Cleveland. 

On the freestyle scene, McDonald finished fourth at the U23 World Team Trials in 2018. 

McDonald will join former teammate and Wolfpack alum Kevin Jack on the NC State staff. Each wrestled under Pat Popolizio. 

There was an opening on the NC State staff as former All-American Tommy Gantt stepped down to pursue a career in MMA. 

Before coming to Kent State, McDonald also served on the coaching staff at Clarion and Long Island. During his first year at Kent State, McDonald worked with 184 lber Colin McCracken who was a MAC finalist. 

McDonald is a North Carolina native having graduated from South View High School in Hope Mills.