Naval Academy Athletics

Four-time national qualifier and 2015 All-American Dan Neff is in his seventh year at Navy and fourth serving as an assistant coach under Cary Kolat. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Neff is a member of the Physical Education Department at the Naval Academy.
 
Neff works primarily with the wrestlers at 125, 133 and 141 pounds.
 
Neff’s work during the 2023-24 campaign was highlighted by Josh Koderhandt (141). He compiled an overall record of 25-8 and went 12-1 in duals. Koderhandt became the first Navy wrestler to win 12 dual matches in a season since Casey Caldwell and Bryce Saddoris, who won 14 and 12, respectively, during the 2008-09 season. Additionally, he led the team with a career-high 10 wins over ranked wrestlers and tied his career-high with eight victories by fall. His top win during the regular season was a 5-2 decision over No. 7 Cole Matthews, which helped the Mids win their dual over Pitt, 21-12.
 
Koderhandt earned the No. 1 seed in the EIWA tournament for his success during the regular season and carried the momentum to win his first EIWA title. He won two matches by fall and outscored his additional two opponents, 17-2. Koderhandt secured his third trip to the NCAA Championship for his placement in the league tournament. He finished with a 3-2 record at nationals with wins over Penn’s No. 17 CJ Composto (4-1), Purdue’s No. 29 Greyson Clark (6-0) and Arizona State’s No. 15 Jesse Vasquez (9-5).
 
Neff helped guide Koderhandt to the NCAA Championship during the 2022-23 season as well. The sophomore compiled a 5-1 record to place third at the EIWA Championship to earn an automatic qualifying spot to the NCAA Championship for the second-straight season.
 
Koderhandt finished the season second on the team in wins (28) and finished tied for second in dual victories (7). He had another memorable performance at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, posting a 6-2 record to place fourth in his respective weight class. Additionally, he placed second at the Clarion Open and Bearcat Open and third at the Navy Classic. Koderhant also recorded seven wins against nationally-ranked opponents, which was the second-most ranked victories by a Mid during the season.
 
Neff also worked with Brendan Ferretti (133), who was one of the top freshmen in the nation in 2022-23. He began his collegiate career with a sixth-place finish at the Clarion Open before suffering an injury at the Bearcat Open. Ferretti returned by placing third overall at the Solider Salute and then posted a 5-0 record to claim first place at the Franklin & Marshall Open.
 
He was named Navy’s starter at 133 pounds for the remainder of the season and finished in a tie for the second-most dual victories on Navy’s roster (7). Ferretti won a dramatic match in Navy’s, 18-13, victory in the Star Meet against Army. He scored a takedown and two-point near fall with under 10 seconds remaining to defeat Rich Treanor by a 7-3 decision. Ferretti earned a trip to the NCAA Championship after compiling a 3-2 record to place fourth at the EIWA Championship. He was one of only 17 true freshmen to qualify for the NCAA Championship.
 
In 2021-22, Neff worked closely with Koderhandt to help him become one of Navy’s three NCAA qualifiers. Alongside Jacob Koser, Koderhandt finished tied for second in wins (26) and tied for first in dual wins (9) with Andrew Cerniglia. Additionally, he finished the season with six wins against ranked opponents. Koderhandt won his first collegiate tournament, the Clarion Open, placed second at the Navy Classic and fifth at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite. Koderhandt placed second at the EIWA Championship, finishing with a 3-1 record to earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Championship. He defeated 21st-ranked Haiden Drury of Utah Valley by a 5-4 decision for his first victory at the NCAA Championship.
 
Neff also worked closely with Jacob Allen, who served as the team captain during the 2021-22 campaign. Allen ended the year with 17 wins and placed first at the Bearcat Open and second at the Franklin & Marshall Open. Allen also went on to earn several academic awards, including being named a 2022 First-Team CoSIDA Academic All-American. He graduated with a 4.00 grade-point average and was ranked No. 1 in the Class of 2022 in Academic Order of Merit, No. 2 in Military Order of Merit and No. 7 in Overall Order of Merit.
 
Neff arrived in Annapolis in July of 2018 as an assistant on Joel Sharratt’s staff and held that position through the 2019-20 season. He transitioned to Director of Operations when Cary Kolat took over the head coaching reins for the 2020-21 season.
 
Navy closed out the 2018-19 campaign with a 6-4 record, placing fifth at the EIWA Championship and 37th at the NCAA Championship. A year later, the Mids turned in an 8-6 record and placed fourth at the EIWA Championship. Cody Trybus (141) and Tanner Skidgel (165) were both crowned EIWA Champions, Trybus winning his first title while Skidgel won his second. Skidgel and team captain Spencer Carey went on to garner All-America honors from the NWCA after the 2020 NCAA Championship was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Prior to arriving in Annapolis, Neff was part of a Bucknell program that saw one of its most successful stretches in program history. The Bison reached double digits in the win column for four straight seasons, including 2016-17 when they closed out the year with a 12-4 mark, including a 9-1 record against EIWA competition. That same season Bucknell placed sixth at the EIWA Championships and sent four wrestlers to the NCAA Championship in St. Louis. There, Tyler Smith finished one victory shy of earning All-America status at 141 pounds. The Bison struggled with injuries throughout the 2017-18 campaign, though Smith once again was a bright spot in the Bucknell lineup. Smith put together the 11th undefeated dual season in school history (16-0) and became Bucknell’s seventh EIWA runner-up, falling to eventual national champion Yianni Diakomihalis of Cornell in the title bout. For the second year in a row, Smith fell one match shy of becoming an All-American, bowing out in the Blood Round.
 
While at Bucknell, Neff also served as a coach and resident athlete of the Buffalo Valley Regional Training Center in Lewisburg. There he organized and conducted practice sessions, coached multiple high school dual teams, volunteered for Lewisburg Elementary wrestling and competed personally at the senior and international level.
 
A four-time NCAA qualifier and 2016 graduate of Lock Haven University, Neff garnered All-America honors in 2015 after placing eighth in the 149-pound weight class at the 2015 NCAA Championship. In doing so, he became the school’s 39th All-American overall and the first since 2007. Additionally, the Quarryville, Pa. native was the 2016 Eastern Wrestling League Champion at 149 pounds and earned PSAC Freshman of the Year honors in 2012. He finished his career 11th on Lock Haven’s all-time wins list with a 109-46 record.
 
Neff also had a remarkable high school career, becoming Solanco High School’s first PIAA State Champion after winning the 3A 135-pound crown in 2011. He amassed a 150-19 high school record which stands as the fifth-best mark in Lancaster County history.