Thiel College Men's Wrestling

Smith enters his fourth season coaching the Tomcat wrestling team and his second as the teams assistant coach.  A 2012 Thiel College alumnus, Smith earned his bachelors degree in forensic accounting, business administration and accounting. Smith works for the Thiel College Department of Advancement as the Director of Alumni Relations after serving the Department of Student Life as Director of Recreational Sports the past two years. Smith was a four-year wrestler at Thiel, serving as team captain his junior and senior seasons. Smith was a two-time runner-up at the Presidents Athletic Conference Championship Tournament at heavyweight. He was a part of Thiel teams that won Presidents Athletic Conference titles in 2009 and 2012. Smith was also a member of NWCA Scholar All-American Teams from 2009-2012.

Seth Phillips enters his first season on the Thiel Wrestling staff in 2025-26. Phillips was a standout at heavyweight under Craig Thurber the last four seasons as he captured three straight PAC titles from his sophomore through senior seasons. Phillips posted a 15-7 record last season with eight pins. He finished eighth at the 2024 NCAA Division III Southeast Regional in his junior year. He was named an NWCA Division III Scholar All-American in 2024 by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). He also made the PAC Academic Honor Roll in 2022.

CRAIG THURBER at a Glance Position Wilt Family Endowed Wrestling Coach At Thiel 24th Season (2026-27) Alma Mater Pitt Johnstown Slippery Rock Career HIGHLIGHTS - COACH Led Thiel to 11 PAC Championships Guided the Tomcats to the program's PAC-record 24th conference championship in 2022-23 Collected 10 PAC Coach of the Year awards, the second-most in PAC history Mentored 78 PAC individual champions and seven PAC Most Outstanding Wrestlers Coached 20 NCAA DIII National Championship qualifiers Mentored nine NCAA DIII All-Americans Coached numerous NWCA Scholar All-Americans Led Thiel to seven NWCA Scholar Team Awards Helped Pitt-Johnstown win the 1996 NCAA Division II National Championship as an assistant coach Coached NCAA Division I All-American Derek Delporto as an assistant at Slippery Rock Career HIGHLIGHTS - WRESTLER Three-time NCAA DII All-American at Pitt-Johnstown 1995 NCAA DII national runner-up at 177 pounds Finished fifth nationally in 1993 and sixth in 1994 Won the Gorriaran Memorial Trophy at the 1995 NCAA DII National Championships Three-time Eastern Regional Champion Named Outstanding Wrestler at the 1995 Eastern Regionals Four-time Thiel College Invitational champion (1992-95) Three-time West Liberty College Tournament champion (1993-95) Recorded 120 collegiate victories at Pitt-Johnstown 1991 Pennsylvania state champion at Greenville High School 1990 Pennsylvania state runner-up at 171 pounds At Thiel Craig Thurber enters his 24th season as the Wilt Family Endowed Wrestling Coach at Thiel in 2026-27. A Greenville native, Thurber has established Thiel as one of the PAC's most successful wrestling programs since taking over the Tomcats in 2003. He has led Thiel to 11 PAC Championships while coaching multiple wrestlers to the NCAA DII National Championships, mentoring several All-Americans. Thurber is a 10-time PAC Coach of the Year, the second-most in league history. Thurber's teams have also excelled academically. Numerous Tomcats have earned NWCA Scholar All-America recognition during his tenure, while Thiel has received seven NWCA Scholar Team Awards. Before Thiel Slippery Rock (1997-99) Thurber served as an assistant coach at Slippery Rock from 1997-99 under former head coach Steve Roberts. During his time with The Rock, Thurber coached Derek Delporto, who earned NCAA Division I All-America honors in 1999. Pitt-Johnstown (1996) Thurber began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater, Pitt-Johnstown, in 1996. He helped the Mountain Cats capture the 1996 NCAA Division II National Championship. Collegiate Wrestling Career Pitt-Johnstown Thurber was a three-time NCAA Division II All-American during his wrestling career at Pitt-Johnstown under head coach Pat Pecora. He finished fifth nationally in 1993 and sixth in 1994 before earning national runner-up honors at 177 pounds in 1995. At the 1995 NCAA Division II National Championships, Thurber received the Gorriaran Memorial Trophy after recording the greatest number of falls in the least amount of time. Thurber was a three-time Eastern Regional Champion and was named the Outstanding Wrestler at the Eastern Regionals in 1995. He was also a four-time individual champion at the Thiel College Invitational from 1992-95 and a three-time champion at the West Liberty College Tournament from 1993-95. He finished his collegiate career with 120 victories. Greenville High School A 1991 graduate of Greenville High School, Thurber won a Pennsylvania state championship at 171 pounds as a senior after finishing as the state runner-up in 1990. Coaching Experience Years School Position 2003-Present Thiel Head Coach 1996-99 Slippery Rock Assistant Coach 1995-96 Pitt Johnstown Assistant Coach Education Pitt Johnstown Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences Slippery Rock Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education