2007 ACC Coach of the Year and ACC Champions

Jordan went from administrative assistant to full-time assistant coach in 1998-99, and took over as recruiting coordinator a year later. He became associate head coach in 2002, then began to prepare seriously to take over the program as Guzzo’s retirement plans took shape during the 2003-04 school year.  When Guzzo finally hung up his whistle following the 2003-04 season, he left a big pair of shoes to fill, but he groomed Jordan for the job and made sure that his protege was ready for the job. The program that Jordan took over couldn’t possibly have enjoyed more success or had a richer tradition than that established by Guzzo.
Jordan’s coaching career began after he left NC State in 1986 at Princess Ann Middle School in Virginia Beach, Va. In seven years as the school’s head coach, 1990-96, Jordan guided Princess Ann to a 35-5 dual-meet record. In 1994, his team won the first city championship in any sport in Princess Ann Middle School history. Before long, however, Jordan felt the need for a bigger challenge, and in 1997 he returned to NC State.

Building on the Wolfpack program’s recent run of success will be Jordan’s short-range goal; building a consistent national contender and re-establishing the success of the 1980s will be his long-range goal. Reaching the pinnacle of the sport will be his ultimate goal.  “We want to win the national championship,” Jordan says. “If you’re not in this to reach the highest level, then you’re in the wrong business. This is the
purest form of competition. That’s what’s beautiful about being involved in college athletics — the finality of it, either you win or you lose. You certainly compete in the private sector, but the outcome can take months, or even years, and it’s exciting in its way, but there is nothing like the finality of going into a wrestling competition and knowing two hours later whether you won or lost, what mistakes you made, what you have to correct. It’s extremely exciting.”

The 42-year-old Jordan and his wife Janie live in Raleigh and have three children, Chris, 21; Cole, 18; and Caroline, 16.

Just five short years ago, Brandon Slay rose to worldwide acclaim by winning the Gold Medal in Freestyle Wrestling at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Two years prior, Brandon graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Finance and Management from the prestigious Wharton School of Business. Brandon was born and raised in Amarillo, TX. He now resides in Dallas, Texas, where many members of his extended family live. He recently accepted a position with Stream Realty Partners, a commercial real estate firm in downtown Dallas.

For many years, Brandon attempted to accomplish his wrestling dreams without God, and he only got so far, but not far enough. In 1999, Brandon finished 6th in the U.S. Nationals by clinging to his own life and doing things his way. At this point, Brandon realized his life had no purpose. Only God could bless the desires of his heart.

At the end of 1999, he gave his life completely up to Jesus Christ. With his new spiritual strength, he was able to go from 6th in the U.S.A. in 1999 to 1st in the World in 2000. Brandon’s motto became “Do your best and let God take care of the rest!” He says, “If we are obedient and doing the natural, God will do the super if it’s according to His Will.”

After the Olympics, Brandon started an organization called Greater Gold, which prepares youth to reach their full academic and athletic potential while planting positive seeds of Biblical Truth. Brandon travels across the nation speaking to schools, youth groups, churches, and business organizations. He realizes he can't share his faith in every instance, but Brandon yearns to be a light. If you need more information, a video, or DVD of Brandon, please, contact Deborah Robinson below.

Jerrod Sanders is in his fifth season in the Wolfpack wrestling program as an assistant coach. Sanders wrestled at Oklahoma State from 1999-2000 through 2002-03 and was an All-American on the Cowboys’ 2003 NCAA championship team, taking fourth place at 149 pounds at the
‘03 NCAA Championships. Sanders finished his career with a 78-22 record, including a 25-5 mark as a senior. He won 20 or more matches three times, and participated in two NCAA Tournaments, earning All-America honors as a senior and missing by one just match as a junior after posting a 24-12 overall record. 

In addition to his success at the collegiate level, Sanders has been a standout freestyle wrestler, earning FILA All-America honors at the 1999 Junior National Freestyle Championships. He was a University Free-Style All-American in 2003, and placed at the 2004 Sunkist International Championships. In 2005, he placed at the U.S. Open Championships and qualified for the 2005 World Team Trials. He continues to compete on the Senior Freestyle Wrestling circuit.  In his three seasons at NC State, Sanders has been instrumental in the development of several Wolfpack wrestlers, including 2005 ACC Rookie of the Year and 2006 ACC champion Kody Hamrah, 2006 NCAA qualifier Joe Caramanica, 2005 NCAA qualifier Alex Hernandez, and 2004 ACC champions Scott Garren and Jake Giamoni.

Sanders was a high school All-American at El Reno High School in El Reno, Okla., finishing with a 126-10 overall record. He won one state championship and was state runner-up twice.

Noel Loban

Former Clemson national champion Noel Loban joined the NC State wrestling program as an assistant coach for the 2007-08 season.  Loban, who went unbeaten in dual matches for three years for the Tigers, won the national championship at 190 pounds in 1980, was named Clemson’s Outstanding Athlete of the Year for 1980, and later was inducted into the school’s athletics hall of fame.  After his collegiate career, Loban enjoyed a lengthy international wrestling career. He wrestled in a pair of Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal for the U.K. at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. He was a six-time British national champion, and placed fourth in the World Championships at Budapest, Hungary.  Loban has 10 years of experience in high school coaching, and has assisted with the collegiate programs at Howard University, American
University, and Boston University.

The 45-year-old Loban and his wife Debra have been married for 15 years. They have two children, Bailey, 11; and Drake, 8.