Derek DelPorto, Slippery Rock Head Coach
Biography:
Derek DelPorto, a former All-America performer and assistant coach at Slippery Rock University and a 1999 SRU graduate, was recently named as The Rock's interim head wrestling coach.
DelPorto returns to The Rock after a four-year absence, during which time he served two seasons each as an assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma and Cornell University.
Derek DelPorto:
Div I All American
DelPorto finished his Rock career with a 116-38 record in four seasons of competition, which ranks as the third-best win total in Rock history. He earned NCAA Division I All-America honors in 1999 after garnering an eighth-place national finish as a heavyweight competitor.
The latest addition to a list of eight Rock wrestlers who have earned Division I All-America honors, DelPorto was a three-time East Regional champion. He won the heavyweight title in 1998 and 1999 after claiming the 177-pound title as a freshman in 1996.
DelPorto also captured the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference heavyweight individual championship as a junior in 1998.
Coaching Tip: "The Pancake"
The pancake is a move that has been around for a long time. I like to teach it as a hip-toss from the mat. This particular pancake position is initiated from your opponent?s offense and hit successfully with precise timing and position as a counter to your opponent?s shot.
To understand how you hit a pancake defending a shot, you must first realize the position you are looking to start the move from. As your opponent takes a shot, you are actually going to catch your opponent in a ?50/50? or ?over and under? position. This position is mostly seen while both men are in the neutral position and are chest to chest. (lateral drop position)
When your opponent takes a shot, you should get your hips and feet back so your legs are out of reach and your chest and arms are the first thing your opponent hits. Remember, keep your head up and chest out. Once contact is made and you have caught your opponent in the over-under position, you will explode your hips and body into your opponent and in the same direction your head is on. Using the momentum of your opponent?s shot, turn your head and chest 180 degrees keeping your ?under? arm tight to your opponent?s body and secure enough to guide his body to a chest on chest position toward the mat. You may find it easier to go to one knee(inside knee) so that you lower your level and are closer to the mat. This is NOT a throw. This is a guided hip toss from the mat. Good luck!
My Wrestling Room wrote "Derek DelPorto, Slippery Rock Head Coach" on May 23, 2006. This post has 
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