Queens University of Charlotte adds wrestling and hires Olympian Ken Chertow as head coach

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – With the announcement of the addition of men's wrestling to Queens University of Charlotte's Department of Athletics, Queens Director of Athletics Cherie Swarthout reveals that Olympian Ken Chertow will lead the program.


"Ken will make an immediate impact on our new wrestling program," said Swarthout. "There is not a better person to start this effort and to foster an environment of excellence. Ken has been successful in all of his endeavors and we look forward to him leading our program and building a strong foundation."


Chertow has found success in wrestling at all levels of competition, both as an athlete and as a coach. Currently he is the coordinator and owner of Ken Chertow's Gold Medal Training Camp System, which he began in 1989 after conducting summer day camps throughout his collegiate career. The summer camp has grown from 100 to over 2,000 students from 49 states and many countries making it the largest wrestling camp in the world. Many of Chertow's campers have gone on to win NCAA Championships. Chertow also has a large six-day winter break training camp and has operated Ken Chertow's Home Training Center in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania since 1997.


In addition to running world renowned camps, Chertow spent time as an assistant wrestling coach at Penn State and at Ohio State following his collegiate career with the Nittany Lions. During his stint as a collegiate coach, Chertow helped Penn State become the National Dual Meet Champions and take second in the NCAA Championships. At the time it was the best finish since their 1953 season. At Ohio State, Chertow helped build the Buckeyes into a national powerhouse as they grabbed fourth and fifth place finishes at the 1991 and 1992 NCAA Championships, respectively.


"I am excited to be starting a wrestling program at Queens," said Chertow. "Queens is clearly committed to building champions in the classroom, athletics and life. When my wife Laurie and I toured the beautiful campus we were very impressed with the new athletic facilities, environment, and the many supportive people we talked to. I would like to especially thank Athletic Director Cherie Swarthout, Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Student Services Tim Burke, and Vice President James Bullock for the opportunity to launch and lead the Queens wrestling program at their outstanding university."


As a student-athlete at Penn State Chertow was a three-time NCAA All-American, World Espoir Champion, and Pan American Champion. He also excelled in the classroom, earning academic all-American honors three times. In 1988 Chertow was the U.S.A. Olympic Trials Champion, going on to compete in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Chertow would go on to be a six-time U.S.A. National Team member, and in 1996 he was honored with the chance to be an Olympic Torch Runner in Atlanta.


Chertow closed stating, "Our nation is hungry for more college wrestling programs and I am glad to know Queens wants a successful program and is willing to provide scholarship money to many student-athletes who excel in wrestling and school. The southeast in particular needs more college wrestling programs and Queens is an ideal location to build a national powerhouse in the sport. Cherie and I share the same vision and level of commitment to make this happen. This is a special and exciting opportunity for me to give back to the wrestling community and the sport I have dedicated my life to."


Chertow received his bachelor's degree in biology from Penn State in 1989.


There are currently 60 NCAA Division II wrestling programs in the U.S. and Canada. Though it is not a South Atlantic Conference sponsored sport, seven schools in the southeast region currently house the sport as part of the Eastern College Athletic Conference. SAC members Coker and Newberry both compete in the ECAC.