"I feel very excited and fortunate to get Pat DeGain back into our program," Goldman said. "As a student-athlete he was a tremendous competitor and leader and he has now proven himself to be an effective coach at Virginia. We relish the opportunity to bring an IU alum back on our staff."
DeGain, who finished third in the heavyweight division at the 2005 NCAA Championships, will work with the upper weight divisions and assist in recruiting for the Hoosiers. Virginia posted a 19-15 record in DeGain's two seasons as an assistant after going 5-13 the year prior to his arrival.
"It's exciting for me to be a coach under Duane and with Duane after wrestling for him," DeGain said. "I learned a lot from him while I was there so I think things are going to go well. I'm really looking forward to returning to Bloomington."
DeGain was a strong recruiter for the Cavaliers, helping them land back-to-back top 25 recruiting classes. His key signees included heavyweight Jack Danilkowicz, who was a FILA Junior National Champion in Greco-Roman. He will be crucial in the development of Hoosier sophomore Nathan Everhart (197) and highly-touted incoming freshman Joe Fagiano (HWT).
DeGain graduated from Indiana in 2005 after finishing his career with a 115-31 overall record over his four seasons. As a senior, DeGain finished the year 35-6 and placed third at the NCAA Championships to seal an All-American season. He ended his career ranked fifth on Indiana's all-time career wins list with 115 and became the third IU wrestler to capture a Midlands title. He also took second at the Big Ten Championships in 2005.
As a junior, DeGain finished 28-8 on the season. His 28 victories were good for fourth on the team as he also went 17-3 in dual action that year. Of his 28 wins, nine victories were by fall, six were major decisions and one win was by technical fall. He turned in a first-place showing at the Northern Iowa Open and also qualified for the NCAA Championships after a third place finish at the Big Ten Championships.
As a sophomore, DeGain posted an 18-match undefeated streak. For the season, DeGain compiled an overall record of 29-7 on the year with a 20-4 dual meet record.
In his debut season, the Clarkston, Mich., native was ranked as high as fifth in the nation during the season. DeGain finished the year with a 23-11 record and a 6-2 mark in the Big Ten. He came up just short of All-American status at the NCAA Championship after posting a 3-2 record at Nationals.
In high school, DeGain was a two-time state champion and won the last 99 matches of his high school career. He finished his career as the No. 4 wrestler in the NHSCA/Asics Senior rankings. He placed fifth at the 1997 Cadet Freestyle National Championships and took fifth at the 1998 Cadet Greco-Roman National Championships.
DeGain and his wife, Nicole, have been married since August 2005.
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