Addition of Clint Musser Bolsters Wrestling Staff
11/8/2012 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
The Kent State wrestling staff recently added Clint Musser as a volunteer assistant. An accomplished collegiate and freestyle wrestler, Musser also brings seven years of coaching experience at the high school level.
"We're really excited to have him and he's a great fit so far," Head Coach Jim Andrassy said of Musser. "He's got a great knowledge of the sport and a lot of experience. He was at the top of his game when he competed and it's good to have him explain to our guys what it takes to get there."
Musser was an NCAA runner-up for Penn State at 157 pounds as a senior in 1999, winning 34 matches. He was a three-time NCAA qualifier, while placing in the top three at the Big Ten tournament in three straight seasons. In four years, he earned 123 career victories. Musser also earned Academic All-Big Ten and honors and was a National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic Team.
"Clint's coached high school and he wanted to get back into college wrestling," Andrassy said. "He just got done competing in MMA so he's in really good shape and works with our guys on a regular basis. He'll do a great job pushing our middleweights in the room. He emphasizes the little things in wrestling that really make a difference in matches and that's really important for our younger guys."
An Akron area native, Musser was a three-time state champion and four-time state finalist, while attending Walsh Jesuit High School. He was also a seven-time freestyle All-American throughout high school and college. Musser went on to have international success, qualifying for the University World Championships and winning a silver medal at the 2004 Pan Am Games.
Musser continued his athletic career, transitioning to mixed martial arts, winning a national amateur lightweight championship in 2010, before turning pro in 2011.
As an assistant coach at both Massillon Perry and Walsh Jesuit high schools, Musser helped guide nine wrestlers to individual state championships and four wrestlers to high school national titles. He also helped lead his teams to top five finishes at the state tournament in all seven of his seasons as an assistant coach.
After a second place finish at the Buffalo Invitational, the Golden Flashes return to action Sunday, Nov. 11 at the Michigan State Open.
