New York, NY – An era has come to a close at Hunter College as the Hawks all-time winningest wrestling coach, Robert Gaudenzi is stepping down from his post as head coach after a 29-year run in which he helped build a successful program that has been a perennial participant at the NCAA Tournament.

A 1976 graduate of Hunter, Gaudenzi competed for four seasons on the Hawk wrestling team under Hunter Hall of Fame Coach Charles Brown. He then returned in 1979 as an assistant coach to Larry Carter before being named the head coach in 1980. Over the next 29 years, Gaudenzi’s team would reach the NCAA Tournament 28 times, 13 grapplers would become All-Americans and in 2007, Terrance Madden became the program’s first NCAA National Champion.

In 2000, Gaudenzi was inducted into the Hunter Athletic Hall of Fame for his accolades as both a head coach and competitor. In 2007, he was named the College Wrestling Coach of the Year by the Board of Directors of Beat the Streets Wrestling Incorporated.

“It’s been a great experience leading young men for the past 30 years, not only guiding them to great wrestling careers, but more importantly seeing them become successful individuals in life,” commented Coach Gaudenzi. “We’ve created a wrestling family here at Hunter…I’ve had the privilege of attending weddings, kids’ birthday parties…my wrestlers are all like sons to me.”

In addition to his coaching duties, Gaudenzi served as the Recruiting Coordinator for Hunter Athletics and also works full-time as a Physical Education teacher at Hunter High School.

Gaudenzi will remain with the team in a part-time capacity as a consultant.