Anthony Dattolo has served as an assistant coach of the New York University wrestling team since the 2016-17 season. He primarily assists with the squad's lower weights.
In 2022-23, the Violets produced their 11th-straight winning season, going 12-4 in dual meets. Cooper Pontelandolfo (165) earned All-America honors as he placed sixth at the NCAA Division III Championships for the second year in a row and led NYU to a 36th-place national finish. He was also the UAA Wrestler of the Year and the Ned McGinley Invitational 165-pound champion. In addition, Evan Anderson became NYU’s first-ever heavyweight qualifier at the NCAA’s and was selected UAA Rookie of the Year.
Several other team members received All-UAA distinction: Nick Bell (184), Tyler Crew (133), Scott DuPont (184). Jason Geyer (174), Husan Khan (157), and Nick Kruczynski (141).
In 2021-22, Pontelandolfo (165) earned All-America honors and was named UAA Rookie of the Year. NYU won its 12th UAA Championship, earned UAA Coaching Staff of the Year honors, finished third at the NCAA Northeast Regionals, won the Racich Rumble, and produced a 16-3 dual-meet record.
Individually, Trent Furman (157), Geyer (184) and Matt Kelly (197) were also NCAA Qualifiers, while Crew (125), Kelly, Danny Lightfoot (141), Will Ortman (285), and Pontelandolfo all won UAA titles. Geyer was also victorious in the 174 bracket at the Racich Rumble, while Pontelandolfo finished first at the Ned McGinley Invitational.
The wrestling team did not compete in 2020-21 due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, 16 team members earned UAA All-Academic honors.
In 2019-20, the team won the UAA Championship, finished third at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships, placed second at the Citrus Invitational, won three matches at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Dual Meet Championships, posted a 12-7 record, and finished the campaign ranked a best-ever #11 in the nation by the NWCA. Four NYU wrestlers earned All-America honors: Evan Drill (149), Sean Lyons (157), Jack La Corte (197), and Izaake Zuckerman (174).
Individually, Lyons captured the NCAA Northeast Region 157-pound title and earned UAA Most Outstanding Wrestler and Wrestler of the Year honors. Seven wrestlers earned NCAA Northeast All-Region honors and six received UAA All-Association accolades.
In 2018-19, Drill finished fifth in the 141-pound weight class at the NCAA Division III Championships. His outstanding campaign also included being named UAA Championship Most Outstanding Wrestler and the NYU Male Junior Scholar Athlete of the Year. He also finished second at the NCAA Northeast Regionals and was selected NWCA All-Academic.
The team posted a 15-4 season record in ’18-19 and finished 30th national. NYU produced fourth-place finishes at the New York State Collegiate Championships, the Citrus Invitational and the Ted Reese Invitational.
The 2017-18 campaign was another successful one for NYU as the team posted a 12-10 record and won the Ned McGinley Invitational at King’s College. The squad also excelled at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships, finishing fourth and qualifying four wrestlers for the NCAA Championships, where NYU produced a 19th-place national finish. Drill (fourth place - 149 pounds) and Raymond Jazikoff (fourth place - 157 pounds) both earned All-America honors after qualifying for the NCAA Championships by winning their respective weight classes at the Northeast Regionals. Lyons (141) and Matt Noble (133) also qualified for nationals.
The roster also featured five UAA All-Association honorees in ’17-‘18: Drill, Jazikoff, Jack Kligerman (184), La Corte (197), and Santino Pelusi (285). In addition, Jazikoff set team records for most wins in a season (48) and career (149).
Dattolo’s first year coaching NYU in ‘16-17 was also a success as 133-pounder Nathan Pike became the program’s first-ever National Champion and the squad finished in 15th place at the NCAA Championships. Pike was joined by Blaise Benderoth (184 pounds, sixth place) as All-Americans, while both John Messinger (174 pounds) and Jacob Donato (125 pounds) also qualified for the NCAA Championships. NYU had a terrific dual-meet season as well, finishing with an 18-4 record and its sixth-straight UAA Championship. Additionally, Dattolo and the NYU staff were honored as the UAA Coaching Staff of the Year.
Dattolo came to NYU after a two-year stint as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Wilkes University. A two-time All-American and 2012 NCAA Division III national finalist at 149 pounds, he is one of the most decorated wrestlers in Wilkes history. A 2012 graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration, Dattolo wrestled four season for the Colonels and won more than 100 matches in his career. A two-time Metropolitan Conference Champion, Dattolo finished in eight place at 149 pounds at the NCAA Championships as a junior before finishing second as a senior.
A native of Roxbury, NJ, Dattolo resides in Forest Hills, NY.
