Graphic and release courtesy of Hofstra Athletics.
Hempstead, NY – Hofstra University Head Wrestling Coach Dennis Papadatos has announced today that Jamie Franco has been promoted to associate head coach with the Pride. In addition, coach Papadatos announced the addition of Mauro Correnti III as the program's new assistant coach.
"To elevate Jamie to Associate Head Coach was a very easy decision. He is an intricate part of everything we do, and a major factor in much of our recent success," said Papadatos. "His loyalty to Hofstra Wrestling is immeasurable, and I am very thankful to keep him as the valuable asset that he has become."
Franco completed his third season as an assistant coach with the Pride in 2020-21, and it was his fifth season with the Pride as he was a volunteer assistant wrestling coach from 2016 through 2018. In Franco's first season as a full-time assistant coach in 2018-19, Hofstra finished 15th at the EIWA Championships and saw one wrestler score a podium finish. The Pride greatly improved the very next season, finishing at 11-5 overall and with a perfect 7-0 mark in EIWA competition, the program's best record since joining the EIWA in 2013, and sent two wrestlers to the NCAA Championships. Hofstra took another positive step when they placed fourth at the 2021 EIWA Championships and had seven wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championships, the most in program history since 2011.
A three-time NCAA Championship qualifier who wrestled at Hofstra from 2009 through 2014, Franco was a two-time Colonial Athletic Association finalist and recorded 75 victories with the Pride during his college career. He captured the 133-pound title at the 2013 CAA Championships and qualified for the NCAA Championships. Franco wrapped up his collegiate career at 125 pounds with a 21-15 overall record, including a 6-1 mark in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA), and a New York State Collegiate Championship title in 2013-14.
Franco graduated from Hofstra with a bachelor's degree in business marketing in 2014.
Correnti III comes to Hofstra from Holy Cross Preparatory Academy in Delran, New Jersey, where he was an assistant coach for the wrestling team. He was primarily responsible for creating and implementing weekly practice schedules and drills, recruiting potential student-athletes, and assisting graduating students with placement onto collegiate wrestling programs across the country. Correnti III has also trained as a Flex Athlete with the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center since 2018. At PRTC, he helps train teammates and college athletes and competes in tournaments at the senior-circuit level.
"Mauro's excitement jumped out at me during the hiring process. I love how eager and excited he is to show that he can be a valuable piece on any coaching staff," Papadatos said. "We have a very good group of guys wrestling at the upper weight classes on this team, so bringing someone in who was very accomplished at his age and had competed at a very high level just a few months ago was important to me. Hofstra Wrestling is very excited to be moving forward with Mauro's involvement."
A four-year member of the Rider University wrestling program, Correnti III won 61 matches in his career with the Broncs and placed third at the 2016 and 2017 Eastern Wrestling League Championships. In 2016, he earned an at-large bid to the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. He was also a member of the Lock Haven University wrestling program in 2013-14, where he competed unattached.
Correnti III was a double graduate from Rider University, completing his bachelor's degree in sociology in 2017 and his master's degree in athletic leadership in 2018.
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