Weader Hired as Full-Time Wrestling Head Coach and becomes full-time after serving a year as interim head coach

FAIRFAX, Va. - Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Tom O'Connor announced today the hiring of Mark Weader as the full-time head coach of the George Mason wrestling program. The two parties reached a three-year commitment. 

"I'm pleased that Mark will continue at George Mason as the full-time head coach," O'Connor said. "As a former athlete, assistant coach and now as a head coach, Mark has experienced the success the program has achieved in the past and I am confident he will lead Mason wrestling to great heights in the future." 

Weader served as the interim head coach this season, leading the Patriots to an 8-7 overall record and 6-4 mark in conference dual meets. The Patriots boast seven ranked wrestlers in the conference - Joe Coughlin, No. 5 at 125 pounds; Will Powars, No. 5 at 133 pounds; Robert Henry, No. 4 at 149 pounds; Tyler Tisdell, No. 4 at 165 pounds; Matt Moyer, No. 6 at 184 pounds; Joel Caruso, No. 5 at 197 pounds; and Ryan Kittrick, No. 5 at 285 pounds. 

Before this season, Weader was the top assistant for the George Mason wrestling team from 1999-2005. As an assistant, Weader helped develop 12 NCAA qualifiers, including 2001 CAA Wrestler of the Year Donnie DeFilippis, and helped coach five CAA individual champions from 2000-2005. He was also on the staff of Mason's 2001 CAA championship squad. 

A former star for the Patriots, Weader, 29, completed his George Mason career in 1998-99 as he compiled a 17-11 overall record, won the Colonial Athletic Association championship at 157 pounds and advanced for the first time to the NCAA Championships. He placed second twice at 142 pounds at the CAA Championships, and he won the Virginia Division I Intercollegiate Championship in 1998. A four-year starter for the Patriots after transferring from Clemson University, Weader finished his career with an overall record of 75-40, ranking in the top-20 all-time in victories at Mason. 

A native of Danville, Pa., and a 1994 graduate of Danville High School, Weader twice qualified for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Championships and placed fourth as a senior. He graduated from George Mason in May 1999 with a B.A. degree in communication. 

Weader will lead the Patriots this weekend at the CAA Championships, held at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pa. The first round of matches are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 3, with the finals slated for 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 4.