FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason wrestling head coach Frank Beasley has announced promotions with his coaching staff – Camden Eppert to Associate Head Coach; Mike DePalma to Head Assistant Coach, and Peter Pappas to Assistant Coach.
 
The Patriots' wrestling program has experienced growth and success during head coach Frank Beasley's six-year tenure. It's not a surprise that the quality and the stability of his coaching staff has impacted the team's results as they head into the fifth straight season together.
 
"The improvements that the program has seen over the last several years is a direct reflection of the time, energy, and unrelenting effort from Cam and Mike," said Beasley.
 
Beasley's coaching squad has produced four winning seasons, including Mason's breakout season last year. The 2022-23 team finished with an 11-8 record and earned the programs' best finish at the conference championship, placing sixth at the MAC Conference Championship in its fourth year as a member.
 
The Patriots had six wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championships during the past five seasons, including two 2023 NCAA Qualifiers, Nate Higley (149) and Mason's first MAC Champion Peter Pappas (157).
 
Under their leadership, the program has excelled in the classroom, earning a NWCA Top 30 distinction for the fourth straight year, including a program-best fifth place in 2022-23. In the past six seasons the Patriots have 14 NWCA Division I Scholar All-American Award winners.
 
Cam Eppert, who has been at Mason for five seasons, helped guide the Patriots to back-to-back nine-win seasons (2018-20) in his first two years, including a 9-7 mark in 2018-19, their best season in 11 years. Mason finished the season with a winning dual record for the first time since the 2007-08 season. In addition, the Green and Gold recorded a nine-win (9-8) season in 2021-22.
 
"Cam has grown tremendously and is an outstanding coach and leader," said Beasley. "I am honored to announce his promotion to Associate Head Coach."  

Prior to Mason, Eppert spent two years as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin.  With the Badgers, he assisted in recruiting, student-athlete development and helped establish the Badger Regional Training Center (RTC) for post-graduate athletes.
 
Eppert helped Wisconsin earn a sixth place Big Ten finish in 2017-18 and an eighth-place finish in 2016-17.  While at Wisconsin, Eppert helped establish a consistent top-20 team in the country each year.  During his tenure with the Badgers, he coached 16 NCAA qualifiers and three NCAA All-Americans.
  
A native of Anderson, Ind., Eppert was a two-time NCAA National Qualifier (2011, 2012) and four-time Big Ten Championships placewinner (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) in his four years at Purdue. 
 
Eppert was team captain of the Boilermakers for three season and his pursuit of excellence extended beyond the mat and into the classroom.  He earned the Big Ten Conference Distinguished Scholar Award and the Team Player Award in 2014.  The 125-pounder was also a four-time Academic All-Big Ten and three-time NWCA All-Academic selection. Cam is on track to graduate with an MBA from George Mason after the fall 2023 semester.
 
Mike DePalma joined the coaching staff in September 2019, after coaching one season at Edinboro University.
 
"Mike has made a terrific impact on our program and demonstrated fantastic growth as a coach," said Beasley.

The native of Jeannette, Pa., started for Kent State for three seasons at 149 lbs. He capped his career with an All-American performance at the 2016 NCAA Division I National Championships. He was a three-time national qualifier for the Golden Flashes.  
 
After graduating from Kent State in 2016, DePalma spent two years as a resident athlete at The Ohio State University Ohio Regional Training Center. He trained under World Team member Tervel Dlagnev and competed in numerous international freestyle wrestling competitions. He competed in both the 2017 and 2018 U.S. Opens, before retiring from competition to begin his coaching career.

Peter Pappas is entering his first season on the coaching staff, a season after the grad transfer capped off a tremendous season on the mat.
 
Pappas joins the coaching ranks after recently finishing his collegiate wrestling career with the Patriots. In his final collegiate season, Pappas won the team's Dan Wotring Outstanding Wrestler Award. The NCAA Qualifier ranked #25 in the NCAA Coaches poll and led the Green & Gold in win percentage with a 24-5 overall record.
 
The Plainview, N.Y. native made history as the first Patriots wrestler to earn a MAC Championship in the four-year history as members of the 14-team conference. Pappas defeated NCAA Qualifier Ashton Eyler 3-1 in sudden victory in the MAC Championship final becoming the first conference champion since 2019, when Mason was a member of the Eastern Wrestling League.
 
Pappas wrestled three years at Edinboro University and earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. He earned a master's degree in sports studies and recreation at Mason in 2023. He was named NWCA Scholar All-America honor and to the 2023 Wrestling Academic All MAC Team.