The New York native comes to DeKalb via Hofstra University, where Dennis Papadatos has served as an assistant on the wrestling staff after he finished his outstanding career as a Pride wrestler.
Papadatos spent the past three seasons working with the Pride as an assistant coach. His responsibilities included the strength and conditioning for the wrestling team, in addition to his service improving technique and working on strategy with the Pride program.
Papadatos[apos] role as an assistant coach with the Huskies will involve organizing practice and developing the wrestling talent. He has shown an aptitude for coaching thanks to his work with Hofstra, one of the best east coast wrestling programs. With Papadatos[apos] immense experience as a wrestler and as a coach, it is easy to understand why NIU head coach Dave Grant is so excited about adding him to the Huskie wrestling staff.
[quote]Dennis brings a high amount of energy to the program and his experience as a player and a coach with Hofstra, a premiere east coast wrestling school, will help NIU improve on past successes,[quote] commented head coach Dave Grant.
While attending Hofstra as a student, Papadatos was a four-year starter for the Pride. During his career at HU, Papadatos amassed 97 career victories en route to two appearances in the NCAA Division I wrestling championships at 157 pounds. Papadatos was also a three-time member of the Division I Academic All-American wrestling team (1999-2001).
While working with the Pride wrestling program, Papadatos spent six years teaching elementary, middle, and high school youths how to wrestle and train properly.
A four-time Dean[apos]s list standout, Papadatos graduated from Hofstra in 2000 with a bachelor of science degree in exercise physiology and completed a master[apos]s in health education from HU in 2002.
Papadatos is 27 years old and was recently married to the former Angela Sarachelli of Brooklyn, New York.
