KENT, Ohio - Kent State University head wrestling coach Frank Romano announced Friday  (June 13) that he will retire following 22 years with the program, the last seven as head coach.  His retirement is effective Sept. 15.    Romano, who is only the fifth head coach in the team's 76-year history, took over the program in 1996 following 15 years as an assistant.  He has posted a dual-meet record of 99-41-1 and led the Golden Flashes to a share of the 2003 Mid-American Conference regular-season championship, their first conference title since winning three straight tournament crowns from 1988-90.  His 2001-02 team set a school record with 20 dual victories, while this past year's team finished 16-5.    "I felt like I wanted to take a page out of (former Cleveland Browns All-Pro) Jim Brown's book and retire on top," said Romano.  "We had a great year this past season in being co-champions of the MAC.  I've coached a long time, and now it's time to move on."    As head coach, Romano has mentored seven different wrestlers to a total of 12 MAC individual titles in his seven seasons. Among his more notable wrestlers were Brent Thompson, one of only two four-time MAC champions in league history; Nick Nemeth, a three-time MAC winner and Kent State's all-time winningest grappler (121-31); and heavyweight Jim Swetter, who owns the school's season (17) and career (46) falls records.    This past season Nemeth and freshman heavyweight Tomas Rodriguez won MAC titles to advance to the NCAA Championships, while Jared Opfer received an at-large bid to the national meet following a runner-up finish at the MAC Tournament.    "We are very grateful for Frank's many years of service to the Kent State wrestling program and wish him the best of luck in the next phase of his career," said Laing Kennedy, Kent State's Director of Athletics.  "He has built a competitive foundation for the program on and off the mat with a strong northeast Ohio connection that is vital to its continued success. The future of the team is on solid ground, and we will continue to build upon the tradition that has been built at Kent State over the past 75 years."    Prior to Kent State, Romano coached at Maple Heights, Elyria and Kenston high schools in Ohio.  In 1988, he became the youngest inductee into the Ohio Wrestling Hall of Fame.    A native of Maple Heights, Romano earned a bachelor's degree in education from The Ohio State University in 1971 and a master's degree in the same area from Kent State in 1983.  He was a two-time Big Ten Conference placewinner and three-time NCAA qualifier on the Ohio State wrestling team.    A search for Romano's replacement will begin in the near future.