Blue White Illustrated

WRESTLING t was in a Des Moines, Iowa, hotel that a young and ambitious Cael Sanderson 2rst met with Penn State representatives. He had just 2nished his third season as head coach of Iowa State, his alma mater, but was ready for a change. Only 29 years old at the time, Sander- son was soon named the 12th head wrestling coach in Penn State history. Now 35, Sanderson has led the Nittany Lions to four national titles, and a4er a brief retreat from championship con- tention this past year – the Nittany Li- ons 2nished sixth at the NCAA tourna- ment in March – his team is once again a favorite heading into his seventh season at PSU. Expectations are high, and as he says in the following Q&A, he wouldn't have it any other way. Six years a4er meeting with administrators and boosters in Des Moines, Sanderson sat down with Blue White Illustrated's Tim Owen in a similar ho- tel conference room, this one in Langhorne, Pa., during Penn State's Coaches Caravan. Here, edited for length, is what Sander- son had to say about the past and the fu- ture. The wrestling room is your sanctu- ary, but what do you like about get- ting out and about on this Caravan, talking to the fans? This is just an oppor- tunity to say thank you. That's the way I look at it, and also to get out and support Coach [James] Franklin, because this is his tour, and Sandy [Barbour], too. Sandy Barbour is the third athletic director in the six years you've been at Penn State, and they've all brought dierent attributes to the table. What have you learned from Sandy? Has she been in the room or have you dis- cussed any plans for the direction and goals of your program? We've had some all-sta3 meetings where we've had the opportunity to get to see her vision, and she talks a lot about the "why." It's not so much about what we do; it's why we do it. I haven't I TRUE BELIEVER PSU's title-winning coach urges team to embrace high expectations | HOPE AND GLORY In his six seasons with the Nittany Lions, Sanderson has guid- ed the team to four national titles. Photo by Mark Selders I N T E R V I E W C A E L S A N D E R S O N

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