CASTLETON, Vt. - Castleton University Associate Dean for Athletics and Recreation, Deanna Tyson, is pleased to announce the hiring of Scott Legacy as the inaugural head coach of the Castleton Wrestling program, which will begin varsity competition in the fall of 2016.

"We're thrilled to welcome Scott as the first wrestling coach at Castleton," said Tyson. "He is a nationally recognized wrestling coach who knows the sport intimately and we're excited to see the success he'll have at the collegiate level."

Legacy comes to Castleton following a Hall of Fame career as the wrestling coach at Mount Anthony Union High School in Bennington for the past 30 years. The 2014 USA Today National Coach of the Year and New England Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee created a dynasty at Mount Anthony, illustrated by his program's 27 consecutive Vermont State Wrestling Championships.

During his tenure he amassed an impressive 654-35-2 overall record, including eight New England Champion teams and eight more which were runner-up. In the last five years alone he has won three New England Championships and finished second once. He also has had 15 teams ranked in the top-25 nationally.

"First of all I am truly honored to be given the opportunity to lead the new wrestling program from the ground up at Castleton University," said Legacy. "I would like to thank President Wolk, Scott Dikeman and Deanna Tyson for creating the opportunity for student-athletes who want to wrestle in college. Especially those student-athletes from Vermont who want to stay close to home and be part of a University which is growing academically and athletically. Coaching in college is the next natural progression for me. My goal is to hopefully be an ambassador for Vermont Wrestling on the college level, while providing student-athletes with memories and a family-type atmosphere that Castleton already provides as one of the leading universities in Vermont."

Legacy has shown the ability to develop wrestlers at all weight classes, with 168 individual Vermont State Champions – a national record for all high school coaches, and 84 All-American wrestlers. He has coached seven national champions, 28 New England Champions and has had three high school USA Team Members. One of his wrestlers has gone on to make the USA World Team and over 180 have competed at all levels of collegiate wrestling.

In addition to his coaching merits, Legacy has held numerous leadership positions within the wrestling community. He has served as the Cadet/Junior National Team Coach since 1990 and for the past 13 years has been a board member of the National High School Coaches Association since 2002. He has been the Vermont State Chairman for USA Wrestling for nearly 30 years and is the Co-President of Catamount Wrestling Club.

Legacy holds a bachelor's degree from Oswego State and a Master of Education Degree in Athletic Administration from Endicott College. He was a three-time high school state champion in Vermont and a high school All-American. He recorded over 100 wins in college, while spending two years each at Morrisville State and Oswego. At Morrisville he was a Junior College National Qualifier and Region 3 Junior College Place winner. Legacy then was named team captain at Oswego, where he was a SUNYAC Place winner.

Legacy will coach his Mount Anthony team through the end of the season before turning his complete attention to Castleton wrestling.