Waller, a Western Pa. native and former NCAA Division I National Champion at the University of Oklahoma begins his tenure in Mat Town, U.S.A., after four seasons as assistant coach at his alma mater.
Waller is a 2003 graduate of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and has spent the last four seasons as a top assistant with the Sooners. Working under head coach Jack Spates, Waller assisted in all facets of the program, including recruiting some of the nation’s top scholastic wrestlers.
Waller, who claimed an individual national championship in 2003, is very excited about his opportunity with a storied program like Lock Haven.
"I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to lead such a tradition-rich program,” Waller said. “Our coaching staff, athletes, and administration are committed to returning Lock Haven University wrestling back to National prominence.”
Before returning to Norman, Okla., Waller spent time at the University of Missouri, Columbia. While at Missouri, he served as a graduate assistant and an assistant coach, helped them to 13th and 11th place finishes in ’04 and ’05, respectively, and earned a Master’s degree in Education in 2007.
Waller is no stranger to the elite level of wrestling competition. Along with his 2003 title, he was also a four-time NCAA qualifier and an All American in 2002.
As in his own wrestling career, Waller has been quick to help his athletes excel on the mats. He has coached 12 NCAA Division I All-Americans and four NCAA Finalists. In 2006, Waller helped Oklahoma to a third-place finish at the NCAA National Championship.
A Latrobe native, Waller was inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006. He is a graduate of Mount Pleasant Area High School where he won a 1998 Pennsylvania State Championship. Waller finished his scholastic career with a remarkable 128-3 record, was a two-time State Runner-up, and a FILA Junior Freestyle Champion.
Lock Haven University Director of Athletics Sharon Taylor is very pleased with the appointment of Waller.
“The traits that made Robbie Waller attractive as the associate head coach do not change with his taking over the program. He has been to the top of the NCAA as an athlete and in the coaching ranks and is highly respected by colleagues and other competitors. He knows what it takes to be successful and to translate that success to others. The team has responded remarkably well to coach Waller in the short time he’s been in Lock Haven, and I hope that everyone will give him and his staff the support they need to accomplish what they and the wrestlers have set out to do.”
Waller has taken over the program following the recent retirement of Rocky Bonomo, who was Lock Haven’s head coach over the last seven seasons. An assistant coach is expected to be named within the week.
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