Hayden Hidlay, a five-time All-American and one of the most accomplished athletes in NC State wrestling history, will return to his alma mater as an assistant coach, head coach Pat Popolizio announced on March 24.
Hidlay’s return is significant for the program due to his legacy both on and off the mat. He previously served as a student-athlete development coordinator at NC State before gaining coaching experience at North Dakota State and Stanford. His time away from Raleigh included helping guide Aden Valencia to a national championship at the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Cleveland.
“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,” Popolizio said. “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.” Popolizio added that Hidlay has grown during his coaching stints elsewhere and looks forward to him continuing to build on Wolfpack culture.
During his tenure with Stanford over two seasons, Hidlay contributed to historic achievements for their wrestling team—including its highest finish ever at sixth place in the NCAA Championships—and closely oversaw their third-ever national champion. “I am honored to be returning to NC State wrestling,” Hidlay said. He thanked his wife for her support and expressed gratitude toward mentors Chris Ayres and Obe Blanc for shaping his coaching career. “The stakes have never been higher for NC State wrestling… I know what is needed of me, and I am ready to answer the call,” he said.
As an athlete competing at 157 and 174 pounds for NC State, Hidlay recorded 110 career wins with a .909 win-loss percentage—the second-highest in school history—and won four individual Atlantic Coast Conference championships. He also earned numerous academic honors including ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2020) and was named NWCA Scholar All-American five times.
Hidlay’s return is expected by many observers to further strengthen Wolfpack wrestling’s competitive edge amid rising standards within their conference.
