*CHARLIE SPIEDEL, Penn State coach, ended the school’s revolving door for wrestling, after five coaches handled the first quarter century. He was hired by Penn State in 1927 as boxing and wrestling coach – despite never wrestling competitively – and handled wrestling for 34 years until retiring in ’64. He traveled extensively to high schools and colleges, speaking at clinics to help promote the still undeveloped sport. He helped found the National Wrestling Coaches Association in 1930, serving two terms as president and organizing the PIAA state championships in 1938.

      Unlike most state school powerhouses in the late ‘40’s, PSU still had only one scholarship at the time and recruited against numerous nearby powers like Lehigh, Pitt, Syracuse, Army, Navy. Charlie’s tenure was interrupted by his Naval World War II service between 1943-46. He compiled a 191-56-13 record (.773) and coached PSU’s 1953 NCAA title team, 13 other Top 10 teams, six national champions, 15 finalists, 41 All-Americans and seven EIWA team champions. Speidel coached twenty Top 3 EIWA teams. From 1950-54 he set the Lion record with 34 straight dual meet wins. Charlie grew up in Elizabeth, NJ, where he was a Golden Gloves boxer, and passed away in 1980 in Gulfport, FL.