USA Wrestling has made its choice for the World Team Coaches in freestyle that will participate in the World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 17-23.

Selected to join USA Wrestling National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson of Colorado Springs, Colo. as World Team Coaches in freestyle wrestling are Kerry McCoy of Palo Alto, Calif. and Lou Rosselli of Edinboro, Pa.

These coaches, as well as all of the coaching assignments in freestyle for the year, were made by the Freestyle Coach Selection Committee and approved by USA Wrestling's Executive Committee.

McCoy was a member of the coaching staff for the 2006 U.S. Freestyle World Team, which placed third in the World Championships in Guangzhou, China. He has served as a coach at the U.S. World Team Training Camps for the last two years. He is currently the head wrestling coach at Stanford Univ., where he is serving in his second season. Previously, McCoy spent five years as assistant coach at Lehigh Univ. and three years as an assistant at Penn State Univ. 

McCoy was a member of the 2000 and 2004 U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling teams, placing fifth at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Austalia and seventh at the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece. He was a 2003 World silver medalist, and placed fourth at the 1998 and 2001 World meets. McCoy won gold medals at the 2003 Pan American Games and won the World Cup four times. He won the U.S. National championships five straight years (2000-2004). He was also a 1992 Junior World champion. McCoy won two NCAA titles for Penn State Univ.

Rosselli served as a World Team Coach for the 2006 U.S. Freestyle World Team, which placed third as a team, with four individual  medalists, including World champion Bill Zadick. He was the assistant coach of the 2005 U.S. World University Games Team, which placed third in the team standings with three individual gold medalists. He has coached a number of U.S. teams on international tours. Rosselli is also a club coach with the New York Athletic Club.

He is the assistant coach at Big 10 power Ohio State Univ., where he is in his first season. He previously served as assistant coach at Edinboro Univ. for 11 years, where he has helped build the Scotsmen into a nationally competitive program on the Div. I level. Rosselli was a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team. He was a 1997 World Cup champion and a three-time U.S. Nationals champion. 

Complete biographies of each World Team Coach selection follows, as well as quotes from each of the coaches.

QUOTES FROM THE FREESTYLE WORLD TEAM COACHES

Kerry McCoy, Palo Alto, Calif.

"I am really excited. I have a strong connection with many of the athletes who are competing. Some were teammates, and I built strong relationships. I am very excited about some of the new wrestlers. My commitment, both as an athlete and a coach, is for the United States to be the best country in wrestling. Now, I have an opportunity to continue on that path. I am honored that the Coach Selection Committee chose me and I will do what I can to get the U.S. on the top of the world, and to stay there for the next few years."

"With two in the finals and two bronze medals, we had a good showing last year at the World Championships. We know we can do better. We want to cover all of our bases and get our guys as ready as they can be. As an athlete, I didn't win an Olympic medal or a World Championship. My experience with that can help these athletes. You have to be the best prepared for the World Championships. When you get to the event, there can be no question about that. If we go out and perform, the results will show. Every day in training, we have to try to get better. We have talented guys from top to bottom. My focus is to help the U.S. to be the best they can be."

Lou Rosselli, Columbus, Ohio

"It is always exciting to get the opportunity to work with the best athletes and coaches in the nation. Hopefully, we can improve on last year, when we won four medals and were close to winning as a team. We will work together to again put ourselves in the position to win. As our weight classes become deeper, it will help our effort. If it is difficult to make the U.S. team, then the No. 1 athletes goes up to a higher level. We have the guys to get the job done. We have the talent to do what we need to do. Our athletes train hard, and I am excited to work with them once again."

National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson of Colorado Springs, Colo.
(about McCoy and Rosselli)

"They will do a great job at the World Championships. Their relationship with the athletes has grown over the years. Their experience at the Olympic Games and World Championships will aid us in our efforts. They have the confidence of our national coaching staff and all of our athletes. They both have tremendous experience, not just as coaches but also as athletes, at the highest level. They were with the U.S. World Team last year and we performed well. We are aiming to improve our performance from last year. Last year, we were in a position to win the World title going into the last day. Our goal is to win as many medals as possible and to win a World Team title. This staff will be crucial in helping us accomplish our goals."

BIOGRAPHY SKETCHES OF WORLD TEAM COACHES IN FREESTYLE WRESTLING

Kerry McCoy, Stanford, Calif.

McCoy was a member of the coaching staff for the 2006 U.S. Freestyle World Team, which placed third in the World Championships in Guangzhou, China. He has served as a coach at the U.S. World Team Training Camps for the last two years, and has coached numerous nationally-ranked men's freestyle wrestlers in recent years.

He is currently the head wrestling coach at Stanford Univ., where he is serving in his second season. Previously, McCoy spent five years as assistant coach at Lehigh Univ. and three years as an assistant at Penn State Univ. He was also the Director of Wrestling for the Lehigh Valley Athletic Club, where he instructed young athletes in the community.

McCoy was a member of the 2000 and 2004 U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling teams, placing fifth at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia and seventh at the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece, competing at super heavyweight. He was a 2003 World silver medalist, and placed fourth at the 1998 and 2001 World meets. McCoy won gold medals at the 2003 Pan American Games and won the World Cup four times (1999-2002). He was second at the 1998 Goodwill Games, and won the Pan American Championships twice.

He won the U.S. National championships five straight years (2000-2004), and placed second on two occasions (1996, 1997). McCoy was also a 1992 Junior World champion, and placed seventh in the 1993 Espoir World Championships. He competed for the New York AC.

McCoy won two NCAA titles for Penn State Univ. (1994, 1997) and placed third in the 1995 NCAA Championships. He received the Hodge Award in 1997 as the college wrestler of the year. McCoy won 131 of his last 132 matches in college, including an 88-match win streak.

He served as Chairperson of the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and was also the President of Penn State's Student-Athlete Advisory Board. McCoy has also served on Athlete Advisory Committees for the U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Wrestling.

A native of Middle Island, N.Y., McCoy was a New York state champion for Longwood High School in 1992 and was a state runner-up in 1991.

Lou Rosselli, Columbus, Ohio

Rosselli served as a World Team Coach for the 2006 U.S. Freestyle World Team, which placed third as a team at the 2006 World Championships in Guangzhou, China. The team featured four individual medalists, including World champion Bill Zadick at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. 

He was the assistant coach of the 2005 U.S. World University Games Team, which placed third in the team standings with three individual gold medalists in Izmir, Turkey. He serves as a club coach with the New York Athletic Club, one of the world's most successful wrestling clubs. Rosselli has also coached a number of U.S. teams on international tours.

Rosselli is in his first season as the assistant wrestling coach at The Ohio State University, joining the staff of new head coach Tom Ryan. Previously, he served 11 seasons as an assistant coach at Edinboro Univ., eight years as a full-time assistant and three years as a volunteer assistant. Rosselli has helped build the Scotsmen into a nationally competitive program on the Div. I level. He is considered one of the nation's most talented assistant wrestling coaches. 

Rosselli competed at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga., at 114.5 pounds. His quest for an Olympic medal was cut short when he broke his arm during a victory and had to withdraw from competition. Rosselli made the team with a stunning victory at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. 

Rosselli was a 1997 World Cup champion, and won a silver medal at the 1998 Pan American Championships. He won U.S. National freestyle titles three times (1995, 1996, 1999) and was second in the 1998 U.S. Nationals. Rosselli was also a University Nationals freestyle champion in 1994. He competed for the New York AC.

Rosselli placed third at the 1993 NCAA Championships and was fourth in the 1991 NCAA Championships for Edinboro Univ. Rosselli was selected the Outstanding Wrestler at both the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament and the Eastern Wrestling League Championships in 1993. His 136 career victories still ranks third on Edinboro's all-time wins list. 

In 2004, Rosselli was inducted into the Edinboro University Athletic Hall of Fame. He was recognized as the 1993 Sox Harrison Award winner, presented to the top senior male athlete at Edinboro.

A native of Middleport, N.Y., Rosselli was a two-time New York state champion at Royalton-Hartland High School, in addition to finishing second once and third once. 

2007 INTERNATIONAL COACHING ASSIGNMENTS IN FREESTYLE WRESTLING

World Championships, Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 17-23
Lou Rosselli, Columbus, Ohio
Kerry McCoy, Palo Alto, Calif.

Pan American Games, Rio de Janiero, Brazil, July 14-18
Kerry McCoy, Palo Alto, Calif.
Mike Duroe, Iowa City, Iowa

World Cup, Krasnoyarsk, Russia, March 22-25
Sean Bormet, Naperville, Ill.
Shawn Charles, Pawtucket, R.I.

Pan American Qualifier, San Salvador, El Salvador, May 18-20
Zeke Jones, Aston, Pa.

Tours
Roman Ruderman, Stanhope, N.J.
Joe Seay, Paso Robles, Calif.

Junior World Championships, Beijing, China, Aug. 21-26
Lee Kemp, Alpharetta, Ga.
Jamill Kelly, Cambridge, Mass.

Junior Pan American Championships, Maracaibo, Venezuela, June 22-24
Mike Hagerty, Blue Springs, Mo.

Cadet Tour du Monde
Mel Dow, Prairie du Chein, Wis.
Randy Baker, Lakefield, Minn.

Alternates
Danny Struck, Jeffersonville, Ind.
Mark Hemauer, Deforest, Wis.
Peter Weaver, Ellsworth, Maine