Dave Crowell
Wilson High School
Impact Statement
“To me, coaching is all about relationships.”
-Dave Crowell
Biography
In nine seasons as Wilson High School’s head coach, Dave Crowell has elevated the Warriors to one of Pennsylvania’s AA powers on a year-to-year basis. This year Wilson Area enjoyed one of their best seasons ever. The Warriors piled up a 19-1-1 record in dual meets, winning the Class AA dual state title and finishing fourth in the individual state tournament.
Early in the 2000 season, Wilson Area took on two of the Lehigh Valley’s Class AAA powers, scoring a big 37-19 victory over Nazareth before cross-town rival Easton High handed them their only loss this season, a 29-21 defeat. Crowell was the head coach at Easton High prior to coming to Wilson Area from 1977-1984, after spending the 1976-77 season as the assistant.
The 19-1-1 record was the second best in school history. Crowell’s career record at Wilson Area stands at 135-39-1. He became the all time leader in victories among the 9 head coaches in Wilson history.
After the 2002-03 season, Crowell resigned his post and took over as the head coach of Nazareth High School. In the next step of his journey he’s led Nazareth to national prominence.
Throughout his career Crowell has led his teams to 7 PIAA Individual State Team Championships, 3 PIAA State Dual Team Championships, 8 District XI Team Titles, 10 District XI Individual Team Titles, and 13 League Championships as of the end of the 2019 season. He has also coached 22 State Champions, 44 State Finalists, and 95 State Place Winners. Nazareth had boasted a State Finalist for 16 consecutive years until 2020.
Crowell is the only wrestling coach in the state to coach a state champion and win at least one PIAA State Individual Tournament championship at three different high schools – Easton, Wilson, and Nazareth respectively. He’s also the first to be voted the PA Coach of the Year in AA and AAA.
Most recently, Crowell’s Blue Eagles won the 2020 PIAA AAA Team Duals with a 38-21 victory over Waynesburg Central for second time in four years. Crowell was also named the Morning Call’s Coach of the Year. Crowell has complied 550 career victories after this season.
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