Cael Sanderson still negotiating new contract with Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 07: UFC light heavyweight fighter Phil Davis (3rd L) poses with Penn State coach Quentin Wright (L), head coach Cael Sanderson (2nd L) and coach Jake Varner during the '20 days to UFC 167' media tour at the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex on the campus of Penn State University on November 7, 2013 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Cael Sanderson has turned Penn State into a college wrestling dynasty, but now the team needs to get him back into their corner with a new contract.

Cael Sanderson has been the key to Penn State’s dominance on the mat since he became the team’s head coach all the way back in 2009, and it looked like he’d stick around forever when he signed a five-year extension to his deal in 2012.

However, like all contracts, they have to end sometime. Sanderson’s extension officially ran out on June 30, and he now has to negotiate a new deal to get back in the corner for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State Athletic Director Sandy Barbour commented briefly on the negotiations in an interview with PennLive about the lack of a new deal on Friday, but didn’t give much insight as to how far along the situation is.

“We are committed to Cael being the head coach of Nittany Lion wrestling and he, too, is committed to building upon his championship success at Penn State,” Barbour said.

In his last deal, Sanderson made $175,000 per year before performance incentives, and his dominant stretch as a coach over the last eight years will definitely help him make some more dough in these negotiations. In his tenure as the team’s head coach, he’s led the team to six national titles in eight seasons, including championships in four straight years at one point.

For background and some possible insight to Sanderson’s future deal, Kevin Dresser signed to Iowa State back in February for $2.25 million over the next five years, along with incentives. Now, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Sanderson use that as leverage, given his extreme success as a head coach.

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Alongside Sanderson, others in the coaching staff are due for some new deals as well. Assistant coaches Cody Sanderson, Casey Cunningham, and Jake Varner are all negotiating for new contracts as well, which doesn’t bode well for the Nittany Lions this offseason.

Obviously there’s still plenty of time for a new deal to be reached, but Penn State can’t afford to lose Sanderson if they have any hope of continuing their dynasty and recruiting more talent to their school.

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