KUTZTOWN, Pa. – One of the most accomplished wrestlers in Kutztown University history is ready to write a new chapter with the program. Two-time national champion and hall of famer Ziad Haddad was announced as the Golden Bears new head coach, Friday morning.
 
Haddad becomes the eighth head coach in program history and succeeds Robert Fisher, who is retiring following a storied career spanning 25 seasons. Haddad wrestled for Fisher, winning the 2014 and 2015 NCAA Division II heavyweight titles, and has served two stints as an assistant coach under Fisher, including the last four seasons.
                         
"We are thrilled to welcome Ziad as the leader of our men's wrestling program," Kutztown Director of Athletics Renee Hellert said. "As a former Golden Bear, Ziad has a strong knowledge of what it takes to be successful in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and on the national stage along with the heart and passion to take our program to the next level."
 
Since returning as an assistant coach in 2022-23, Haddad has been heavily involved in all day-to-day aspects of the program including recruiting, scheduling and practice planning. He's helped KU to a 29-12 dual record, back-to-back runner-up team finishes at the NCAA DII Super Region 1 Championships in 2025 and 2026 and the program's best-ever finish (eighth) at the 2025 NCAA DII Championships.
 
Along with a two-year run as assistant coach from 2015-17, Haddad has coached 12 All-Americans and five Super Regional champions.

"My family and I are very grateful for the opportunity to continue the legacy of the Kutztown men's wrestling program that Coach Fisher built," Haddad said. "This is a full circle moment for me and a dream come true."
 
Haddad, who grew up in nearby Orefield, Pa., joined the Golden Bears prior to the 2012-13 season after two years at the University of North Carolina. He made an immediate impact, going 27-5 and finishing fourth at the NCAA DII Championships for the first of three All-America honors in his career.
 
Haddad backed up his debut in maroon and gold with two of the greatest seasons in program history.
 
In 2013-14, Haddad completed a perfect 25-0 season to win his first national title. He won his first Super Region 1 title and was named DII National Wrestler of the Year.
 
For an encore, Haddad produced a 30-0 record in 2014-15 and claimed his second consecutive national championship. He became the first Kutztown wrestler to accomplish the feat and the program's second multi-time national champion, joining Joe Kemmerer (2007 & 2009). Haddad won his second straight Super Region 1 championship and topped a bracket comprised of Division I and II wrestlers to earn his first PSAC championship. He was named Most Outstanding Wrestler at the PSAC Championships and Most Dominant Wrestler at the NCAA DII Championships.
 
Haddad produced an 82-5 career record at KU (40-1 in duals) with 22 pins. He is one of three KU wrestlers to record an undefeated season and the only one to do it twice. Haddad is tied for fifth in career pins and ranks sixth in career wins at Kutztown.
 
 A 2018 Kutztown graduate with a degree in social studies, Haddad was named 2015 KU Male Senior Athlete of the Year and 2014 and 2015 KU Male Athlete of the Year.
 
In 2021, Haddad was inducted into the Kutztown Athletics Hall of Fame. He'll be enshrined in the NWCA Jim Koch Division II Men's Wrestling Hall of Fame next month.

Haddad and his wife of 12 years, Shelly, have five sons: Nezar (10), Tarik (9), Elias (7), Zain (5) and Mazen (2). He will step into his new role July 27.