Depew taking on a new challenge
Pleasant Valley coach to head up 1st women’s team at Cedar Crest
Alex Depew is on the move again. A year after taking his first head coaching job at Pleasant Valley, Depew will be the first head coach of Cedar Crest College’s women’s wrestling program.
“We’re going to be doing a lot of heavy recruiting,” Depew said. “It’s going to be hectic. We have the right pieces in place. We’re in the Lehigh Valley, where girls wrestling is taking off. It’s an exciting time.”
Cedar Crest will compete only as a tournament team in the 2022-23 season. Its first year as a dual-meet program will be 2023-24.
Depew is a Wilson graduate and former assistant at his alma mater, who was 8-16 in his only season in charge of the Bears. The 31-yearold will be joined by fellow Wilson grad Austin Warman, who was with Depew at Pleasant Valley.
A search for a female assistant coach has begun.
“I am excited to get Alex on staff as our first-ever wrestling coach,” said Allen G. Snook Jr., Cedar Crest College’s director of athletics, wellness and recreation.
“His knowledge of the sport and strong connections to the local and regional areas will be critical as we build our program from the ground up. I can’t wait to get our program moving with Alex leading the group.”
Depew informed Pleasant Valley’s team Monday of his decision.
The Bears are graduating three solid senior leaders in James Syracuse, who was 30-5 this season and the program’s first regional qualifier since 2015, Everett Lata and Josh Griffith.
Depew began his college career as a freshman starter at 174 pounds at Kutztown before transferring and becoming a team captain at Millersville. The Pen Argyl resident served as a varsity assistant at Notre Dame-Green Pond and Wilson before taking over last season at Pleasant Valley.
“[Cedar Crest] was an easy sell,” Depew said. “It’s full time. It keeps me coaching wrestling, which I love. And I get to continue watching the sport of female wrestling continue to grow.”
Depew, who has a bachelor’s degree in history from Southern New Hampshire University, also
will be an assistant in the Cedar Crest athletic department.
He is excited to build new relationships at Cedar Crest but will miss those he established at Pleasant Valley
“It was an amazing learning experience,” Depew said. “I’m going to miss those kids. They are awesome kids. I grew as a person coaching them. Watching Syracuse’s long journey, which ended with an injury [at regionals], the way he grew, he was so motivated and humble as a person.
“It’s an absolute privilege to be the first head women’s wrestling coach for Cedar Crest College. I
look forward to building a new tradition of excellence at an already-revered institution.
“Ultimately, I hope to promote Cedar Crest with class and continue to promote and grow women’s wrestling.”
Pleasant Valley joins Emmaus as EPC wrestling programs in need of a head coach. Thad Smith stepped down last month as the Green Hornets coach. Northampton recently hired Nazareth assistant Joe Provini as its next head coach, replacing Seth Lisa.
Pleasant Valley eliminated 40 positions in April through furloughs, nonrenewals of positions
or by not filling vacant jobs. The school district has a $3 million deficit, even with a proposed a 4.7% tax increase and 21 employees taking early retirement, according to reports.
Declining enrollment, deteriorating buildings and costs for cyber and charter schools are among the reasons for the financial shortcomings.
Pleasant Valley cut a paid wrestling assistant position in the middle of the 2021-22 season.