Patrovich Steps Down from LIU Head Coaching Position

Earlier this week, we published an article on the new DI head coaches assuming it was a safe time to release such a feature. Well, you know what they say about assuming!

There will be another new head coach for the 2024-25 season as Long Island’s longtime head coach Joe Patrovich stepped down yesterday. 

The LIU program was revived in 2014 and Patrovich has led the Sharks ever since then. Long Island was initially known as LIU Post and merged with LIU Brooklyn to form the school as we know it today. It was also a DII school that had undergone a transition into DI. 

Just this past year, Long Island produced its first NCAA DI qualifier - Anthony D’Alesio, who was seventh in the EIWA. In Kansas City, D’Alesio notched the first DI win at the national tournament. 

D’Alesio returns and starts the season ranked #32 in the nation at 184 lbs. 

As a team in 2023-24, Long Island amassed an 8-8 record and started the season off with a pair of wins over Buffalo and Sacred Heart at WrangleMania. They ended the year 15th out of 17 teams in the EIWA. 

Last week, Long Island assistant coach Jesse Dellavecchia stepped down to accept a coaching position with Hofstra. 

The timing for this move is very curious with just over a month before the start of the 2024-25 season. Sources close to the LIU program attribute this move to indifference from the administration towards the wrestling team. 

We will continue to monitor the coaching situation for the Sharks.