June 19, 2003

CHAPEL HILL - University of North Carolina wrestling head coach C.D. Mock announced the hiring of assistant coach Cary Kolat. Kolat, a two-time NCAA champion, comes to North Carolina from Lock Haven University where he was an assistant coach for two years. He was an All-American wrestler at Lock Haven from 1995-97. He will assist with the day-to-day operations of the Carolina wrestling program.

"I'm very pleased to have someone of Cary's credentials, both as a wrestler and a coach," said coach Mock. "We're excited about the expertise he brings to the staff and the team.

"Cary is committed not only to helping Carolina wrestling attain its goals, but is committing himself to improving the status of the youth/amateur division here in North Carolina. He has made the decision to coach and I think he will be here at North Carolina for a long time."

Kolat was one of the most prestigious amateur wrestlers in the world. He began his collegiate career at Penn State University where he went 22-5 as a freshman and advanced to the NCAA title bout, falling to UNC's T.J. Jaworksy 6-4 in 1993. He earned All-America honors for the second straight season in 1994 at 134 pounds and was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year after ending his sophomore season 39-1.

The 134-pounder then transferred to Lock Haven University. He won his first national championship in 1996, ending the year 25-1. Kolat picked up his first undefeated season in 1996-97 going 25-0 at 142 pounds en route to his second straight national title, first at the 142 weight division. Kolat was a two-time PSAC champion (1996, 1997) and an Eastern Wrestling champion in 1996-97 during his stay at Lock Haven. He was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the EWL Championships in both his junior and senior seasons.

Kolat ended his career with an impressive .941 winning percentage (111-7) and 53 career falls.

He has participated in 13 international events for the United States, including the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia where he finished ninth. Kolat was a World Cup Silver Medalist in 2001 and a Pan American Gold Medalist in 2000. He finished fourth at the 1999 World Championships in Ankara, Turkey and won another Gold Medal at the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada.

Kolat is a three-time World Cup Gold Medalist (1998, 1999, 2000) and was named Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Cadet World Championships in 1989.

Cary Kolat will graduate from Lock Haven University with a degree in criminal justice this July. He was born on May 19, 1973, in Alabaster, Ala., and raised in Pennsylvania by his parents Joe and Judy Kolat. He and his wife, Erin, have a daughter Zoe.