The Pitt-Johnstown Athletic Department has announced the hiring of Mike Wehler as Assistant Athletic Director of Compliance and Student-Athlete Services and Anthony Dean-Neil as Head Men's and Women's Track and Field and Men's and Women's Cross Country Coach.
 
"The Pitt-Johnstown Athletic Department has seen quite a few drastic changes this past year including the most notable with the passing of the great Pat Pecora," Athletic Director Abby Gearhart said.  "The department has also added three new sports for the first time since adding softball in 2015: Women's Wrestling, and Men's and Women's Swimming.  There have also been some other departmental shifts and moves that have left vacancies for the Assistant Athletic Director of Compliance position and the Head Track and Cross Country position.  Our institution took a great deal of time in the hiring processes to key in on finding dynamic individuals that will be committed to growing our representation as a powerful force in Division II."
 
"The Assistant Athletic Director of Compliance position is a required and ESSENTIAL position that functions to uphold the integrity of the athletic department.  It requires a great deal of organization, character, and relational components.  We could not have found a more perfect person to do the job.  Formerly at Mercyhurst, Mike Wehler has always been a feared opponent across the mat for Pitt Johnstown and Pat Pecora, but one that came with a tremendous amount of respect and mutual love and admiration.  I personally have been afforded the opportunity to work with Mike through many opportunities that allowed me to see his skillset; in particular, he was a tremendous help for Pitt-Johnstown when we hosted the regional wrestling championship in 2018.  His willingness to help and problem solve for our event always stuck with me. He has always been the type of person that you can call anytime and bounce ideas and questions off of and get the best advice. Now, being two weeks into the job, he continues to blow our department away with his work ethic, creativity, and ambition. We are elated to have him a part of the Mountain Cat Family and "on the right side of the mat" with us," Gearhart said.
 
Wehler graduated from Lock Haven in 2000 with a Bachelor's Degree in Health and Physical Education, then earned his Master's Degree in Physical Education at UNC-Pembroke in 2004.
 
Prior to his arrival at Pitt-Johnstown, Wehler, spent the previous 18 years as Head Wrestling Coach at Mercyhurst University where posted a 188-90-2 overall record, coached 32 NCAA Division II All-Americans, one individual national champion, and five other NCAA finalists.  He led his teams to five Top-10 national finishes, including a fourth-place finish with six All-Americans in 2015.  That same year, Wehler was named the Division II National Wrestling Coaches (NWCA) National Coach of the Year.  He coached 109 NWCA Scholar All-Americans his teams placed in the Top-10 academically on eight occasions and had the nation's top overall team GPA in 2013.  Wehler was also named the NCAA Super Region II Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2015 and earned the NWCA Bob Bubb Coaching Excellence Award in 2013 and 2017.
 
He spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina-Pembroke, before being named Head Coach at West Liberty (WV) University in 20024.  In three seasons with the Hilltoppers, Wehler was 27-20 and coached four All-Americans.
 
From 2017 through 2024, Wehler chaired the NWCA Division II Hall of Fame Committee and was a member of the NWCA Leadership Group and Scholar All-American Committee.  In addition, he served as a NWCA Leadership Academy Mentor (2021-2024), President of the Division II Wrestling Coaches Association (2012-15), and Vice President of the Coaches Association (2010-12).
 
"Pitt-Johnstown track is one our of most seasoned sports, dating back to the early beginnings of the University's athletic department", Gearhart said.  "Over the last several decades, the track and cross country programs have maintained their reputable pace in one of the fastest conferences in Division II, the PSAC.  We are extremely appreciative of former Coach Nick Ramirez's efforts in building the program and recruiting quality athletes.  We wish him the best on his new endeavors in the pursuit of ministry.  Ramirez's vacancy launched a search for the new Head Track and Cross Country Coach—A job not for the faint of heart!  Cross Country and Indoor/Outdoor Track competitions span the entirety of the academic calendar year.  This job requires a lot of energy, organization, and relational skills to manage and recruit such large rosters."
 
"While we interviewed a series of incredible candidates from across the country, we found a gem in our backyard in Coach Anthony Dean Neil!  His energy was contagious and connections in the track community at all levels proved Dean Neil to be the desired candidate to hire.  He has done amazing things in his short stint at Conemaugh Township, and he is just getting started here!  His impressive resume through his coaching career matches his personally decorated collegiate and high school careers. I love Coach Dean-Neil's energy and his hunger to grow the program and dominate in such an impressive conference and division," Gearhart said.
 
Dean-Neil, brings over four decades of experience at the high school and collegiate levels, most recently serving five year as the Head Track and Field Coach at Conemaugh Township High School in Davidsville, Pa.  Under his leadership, many student-athletes went on to compete at the collegiate level, continuing a tradition of excellence.

Prior to that, he led the North Star High School (Boswell, Pa.) Cross Country team and held previous coaching roles in sprints and hurdles at Somerset High School (2003–2004, 2020–2021).  He also served as an assistant coach at Middletown South High School in New Jersey. At the collegiate level, Coach Dean-Neil has contributed to programs at Monmouth University (NJ) and Kennesaw State University (GA). A USATF Level 1 Certified Coach, he is known for developing student-athletes who thrive both in competition and beyond.

Dean-Neil's athletic career is equally distinguished. As a student-athlete at Lincoln University, he earned 15 NCAA Division III All-American honors and was the 1993 NCAA National Champion in the 400-meter hurdles. He was also a standout at Long Branch High School (NJ), where he was ranked #3 nationally indoors in the 800 meters in 1984.
Dean-Neal and his wife Dr. Cindy Neri (Pitt-Johnstown Class of '96), have two children: Liam, a student at North Star High School, and Zoe, a 2025 Pitt-Johnstown graduate.
 
"We are beyond thrilled with all of our new hires throughout the past year including Head Women's Soccer Coach Aideen O'Donoghue, who carried our Women's Soccer Program to its first PSAC playoff berth; Head Men's Wrestling Coach Tyler Reinhart who carried on Coach Pecora's legacy of capturing a PSAC and Regional Championship along with two All Americans in his first season at the helm; Coach D'Wan Shackleford Vickroy who successfully led the Women's Basketball program through their 50^th season and got busy this summer working camps and acquiring six stellar recruits; Assistant Baseball Coach George Roberts stepped into the interim Head Coaching spot with the retirement of longtime Coach Todd Williams and has obtained an impressive recruiting class as he continues through his interim role for the 2025-26 season; and finally with the hiring our new Assistant Men's/Women's Wrestling Coach, Former Pitt Johnstown National Champion, Jacob Ealy; Head Women's Wrestling Coach, also Former Pitt Johnstown National Champion, Shane Valko; and Head Men's/Women's Swim Coach/Aquatics Director, Kile Zeller who are working vigorously to lift off our new sport additions. Each candidate has been a game changer and has tremendously impacted the lives of our student athletes, department, and campus.  They all bring unique skillsets and personalities that contribute to making this department so very special. We are so Mountain Cat Proud and cannot wait to see what the future holds for Pitt Johnstown Athletics," Gearhart said.