CLARION, Pa. -- Head wrestling coach Keith Ferraro announced today that Evan Delong, a Clarion alumnus and a 2019 NCAA qualifier, will join the Golden Eagle staff as a volunteer assistant in 2023-24.

"We are truly excited to welcome Evan back to Clarion, this time as an assistant coach," Ferraro said. "His history as a dedicated athlete showcases the incredible achievements that come from hard work within our program. Evan's role as a positive influence and mentor is sure to be of great benefit to our athletes, helping them grow into exceptional young men."

Delong compiled a record of 84-60 (including a redshirt season) during his time as a Golden Eagle, including a career-best 22-9 mark set as a sophomore in the 2015-16 season. The next year he won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championshps Outstanding Wrestler award, sweeping his way through the 165-pound bracket.

His best postseason finish came in 2019, though, when Delong broke through and qualified for the NCAA Championships in his final season. Delong fought his way through the 165-pound wrestlebacks at the Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) Championships and clinched an automatic bid with a 3-1 decision over George Mason's Colston DiBlasi, securing himself a bid for the national tournament.

After concluding his wrestling career at Clarion, Delong served as an assistant at Shippensburg for a time, and also trained for mixed martial arts (MMA) competition. He graduated from Clarion in 2019 with a degree in Environmental Biology.