Jim Harshaw Named Head Wrestling Coach At Slippery Rock

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May 10, 2002

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Jim Harshaw, an assistant wrestling coach at the University of Virginia for the past two seasons, was named Friday the new head wrestling coach at Slippery Rock University. Harshaw, a native of Cranberry Township, Pa. and a graduate of Seneca Valley High School, will succeed Chris Elliott who served as interim head wrestling coach at SRU last season. Harshaw is the eighth person to serve as The Rock’s head coach since 1958-59, but only the fourth since 1967-68. Slippery Rock, a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), is classified as an NCAA Division II institution, but competes on the Division I level in wrestling.

“I am extremely excited for the opportunity to coach at Slippery Rock and for the challenge to be back in one of the best wrestling areas in the country,” said Harshaw. “It is also going to be nice to be back close to home. Slippery Rock has a great wrestling tradition and I want to help bring the program back to its former glory. I loved my time here at Virginia as both a student and as an assistant coach. I have learned a lot about the sport of wrestling by competing as a student-athlete at UVa, and about the coaching aspects of the sport from working under (Virginia head wrestling coach) Lenny Bernstein. It was a hard decision for me to think about leaving UVa, but this is a great opportunity.”

Prior to being named the head coach at Slippery Rock, Harshaw served as an assistant wrestling coach at Virginia and was Lenny Bernstein top aid for two years (2000-2001, 2001-2002). A 1999 graduate from UVa, Harshaw earned both his undergraduate degree in Environmental Science and his masters degree in Secondary Science Teaching as part of a five-year program through the Curry School of Education while competing as a member of the Virginia wrestling program from 1995-1999. During his career at UVa, Harshaw posted an impressive record of 102-38 (.729) overall, 37-13 (.740) in dual match action. He gathered All-America honors in 1998-99 after posting a record of 40-8 (.833) overall, 14-1 (.933) in dual matches. Harshaw is one of only seven Cavalier wrestlers ever to earn All-America honors.

Harshaw became only the fifth wrestler ever at Virginia to win three ACC Championships titles after he won individual championships in 1997-1998-1999. He was a four-time NCAA Championship qualifier, a three-time intercollegiate Virginia state champion and was twice named the Outstanding Wrestler at the State Meet. Harshaw became the sixth UVa wrestler to be named a NWCA Academic All-American when he gathered the honor in 1999.

Harshaw left his mark throughout the UVa record books with his illustrious wrestling career. His 102 career victories stands second on Virginia’s all-time win list, tied with former teammate Matt Roth. Harshaw and Roth also set the UVa all-time record for most pins in a season with 11 during the 1999 campaign. He stands second all-time at Virginia for: pins in a career (24), matches competed in during a season (48), and is third all-time in most wins in a season (40) and dual match victories in a season (14). Harshaw also stands fourth all-time at UVa in matches in a career (139), dual matches competed in a career (48) and dual match wins in a career (37).

— UVa —