6/19/26
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – The Lackawanna College Athletics administration is pleased to announce the hiring of Dave Morgan as the new head men's wrestling coach, taking over the Falcons ahead of the 2026-2027 season in anticipation of the move to the NCAA Division II and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
 
Morgan, a two-time national champion at King's College and a Scranton native, will take over the men's wrestling program from John Fox, who will remain at Lackawanna College and coach the women's wrestling squad.
 
"As we continue our transition to NCAA Division II and build a championship-level experience, Dave's background in working closely with students and supporting both academic and personal development will be a tremendous asset," says Director of Athletics Erik Larson. "He understands the critical role athletics plays in complementing the work of our coaches, and his ability to connect with student-athletes will help foster a culture of accountability, growth, and success both on the mat and in the classroom."
 
Morgan is an accomplished wrestler, earning a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh after a successful career at West Scranton HS, where he was a Class AAA state runner-up. After a year with the Panthers, Morgan transferred home to nearby King's College in Wilkes-Barre, where he had an outstanding career with the Monarchs. Morgan won a pair of national championships at the NCAA Division III level at 133 lbs. for King's, and he finished his career with an 86-7 overall record, winning three conference championships and, to that point, the only two national championships in the history of the King's College athletics program.
 
"Coming back to Scranton is a tremendous opportunity, both personally and professionally," says Morgan about returning to the area, "Northeastern Pennsylvania has a rich wrestling tradition, and being able to return to an area that values the sport and develop young men through wrestling is something I take great pride in."
 
Lackawanna College started its men's wrestling program in 2018 under coach Fox, and the Falcons had immediate success on the junior college level. In all, Lackawanna earned 45 national qualifiers, 33 of which came under coach Fox, and the Falcons were Region XIX champions twice, including this past season. Morgan will be tasked with continuing that success, but also transitioning the Falcons to be ready for competition in the rugged and competitive PSAC.
 
"Lackawanna College has a strong reputation for providing opportunities to student-athletes, and I am excited to help build on that tradition while creating a culture of accountability, hard work, and excellence," says Morgan. "Being part of the community and helping represent the College is something I don't take lightly."
 
After his career at King's College, Morgan transitioned to assistant coaching at his alma mater, while also serving as an admissions counselor. In his career coaching, Morgan has spent time in the collegiate ranks, as well as at the high school and club levels. He was a part of the Scranton HS staff for several years alongside his brother, Jim Morgan, helping the Knights turn into a regional power. After four years at Scranton, Morgan left to pursue other opportunities, but kept a foot in wrestling, starting a successful club program in southern North Carolina, which he spent almost a decade building and coaching for, and he also spent time as an assistant coach with White Oak HS.
 
Now back in the area, the former championship-level wrestler, in addition to his role at Lackawanna, will be helping the West Scranton Wrestling Alumni Junior Club, coaching younger wrestlers how to grow both on and off the mat through technical development and character growth.
 
A chance to be a part of setting the vision for the Lackawanna College program at such a pivotal time in its history was something that intrigued Morgan.
 
"The opportunity to build and shape a program during a pivotal period is incredibly exciting," says Morgan. "The commitment that Lackawanna College has shown towards athletics and student-athlete development stood out."
 
Morgan's immediate task now becomes building a competitive roster that will continue to build on the foundation that was laid. Lackawanna College's home duals and events will continue to be hosted inside the historic Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium, and new facility upgrades, including the wrestling locker room and the new Falcon Performance Center, is all something Morgan thinks will help him attract top student-athletes to Lackawanna College.
 
"The transition to the NCAA presents both challenges and opportunities. One of the biggest challenges will be building a roster that can compete immediately while also establishing a long-term foundation for sustained success. Recruiting student-athletes who fit the academic, athletic, and cultural expectations of the program will be critical," says Morgan on the challenges coming for the program. "However, I view these challenges as opportunities. With a clear vision, strong institutional support, and a commitment to developing student-athletes, Lackawanna can establish itself as a respected NCAA program.
 
"The goal is to create a culture that attracts talented wrestlers, develops them throughout their careers, and positions the program for success at the regional and national levels."
 
Fox will remain with the College, continuing to head up the women's wrestling program. Under his guidance this past year, Lackawanna College had five active women's wrestling student-athletes competing at various weight classes towards the end of the season, with injuries keeping another pair of wrestlers out of action. The women's team was in competition at the national invitational tournament with the NJCAA. Several program-firsts were set this past year, including the first women's wrestling bouts and team competitions inside the Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium, and the Falcons were competitive against numerous NJCAA and NCAA programs. Both the men's and women's wrestling teams will be set to transition to four-year competition in 2026-2027 against PSAC and other four-year programs.