North Carolina State University Athletics
Hayden Hidlay Returns to NC State Wrestling
3/24/2026 12:15:00 PM | Wrestling
RALEIGH – NC State wrestling's first-ever five-time All-American is returning to Raleigh to rejoin the NC State wrestling staff, this time as an assistant coach, as announced by head coach Pat Popolizio on Tuesday.
One of the most decorated athletes to come out of the NC State wrestling program, a Raleigh reunion will be had with Hayden Hidlay as he returns to his alma mater.
Hidlay joins the Wolfpack staff after spending the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons as an assistant coach at Stanford, as well as the 2023-24 season at North Dakota State. Immediately following his graduation from NC State back in 2022, the five-year member of the Pack served as the student-athlete development coordinator for NC State wrestling.
"Hayden was one of the most impactful student-athletes we've ever had, not only just within our program, but both at the conference and national levels too," said head coach Pat Popolizio. "As one of the winningest wrestlers in NC State school history, he was our program's first-ever five-time All-American, all while accumulating academic accolades across the board as well.
He's spent the last few seasons growing, as a coach and as a man, at Stanford and North Dakota State. Just days ago, he guided Aden Valencia to his first national championship as a 10th-seeded redshirt-freshman at the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Cleveland.
Hayden will continue to instill our program's culture that he helped build as an athlete. We are thrilled at the opportunity to have him back in Raleigh, back in the wrestling room that he accomplished so much in."
Over the last two seasons, Hidlay helped the Cardinal produce tremendous results during their first inaugural years in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The squad is coming off a historic season with its highest-ever finish at the NCAA Championships in sixth place and the third national champion in program history, a wrestler whom Hidlay closely oversaw.
"I am honored to be returning to NC State wrestling," said Hayden Hidlay. "First, I would like to thank my wife for always being by my side and making this journey with me. I know all this means even more to be starting our family in Raleigh. I want to thank Pat for believing in me to join his vision for the program I hold so close to my heart.
I want to also thank Chris Ayres and Obe Blanc. The past three years learning from them has been invaluable to my coaching career.
The stakes have never been higher for NC State wrestling. The competition in our conference has never been tougher. I know what is needed of me, and I am ready to answer the call. I know I'm at my best in this sport when I have my brother (Trent Hidlay, Wolfpack RTC athlete) by my side, and we are ready to give everything we have to make this program the best it can be."
After spending the 2022-23 season as the student-athlete development coordinator for the Pack in Raleigh, Hidlay joined the North Dakota State coaching staff in Fargo under former NC State assistant coach Obe Blanc.
As an athlete, Hidlay created an impressive resume for himself on and off the mat, earning his way into the program's record book. Wrestling at 157 and 174 lbs for the Pack, he recorded 110 career wins, with a total record of 73-1 in bonus point matches. He holds the second-highest career win-loss percentage for the Wolfpack at .909 from his overall tally of 110-11. As a five-time NCAA All-American, Hidlay also claimed four individual ACC Championships and was the 2020 ACC Wrestler of the Year. In 2022, he won NC State's highest athletic award, the H.C. Kennet Award, which is given annually to the top student-athlete. He is the program's first and only NCAA Finalist at 157 lbs (2018 NCAA Championships in Cleveland).
A native of Lewistown, Pa., Hidlay earned his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from NC State in 2020, in addition to graduate certificates in NC State's Nonprofit Management Graduate Program and Professional Communication and Managerial Skills. He was the 2020 ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was listed on the All-ACC Academic Team five times, and was also named a NWCA Scholar All-American each of those same years.
@WolfpackWrestling || @PackWrestle || #PackMentality
