DePalma joined the coaching staff in September 2019, after coaching one season at Edinboro University.
The native of Jeannette, Pa. wrestled for the Fighting Scots as a redshirt freshman in 2012-13 before transferring to Kent State. He wrapped up his competitive career with the Golden Flashes, earning All-American honors as a senior.
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.
DePalma 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 finished fifth at 149 lbs., going 6-2 with wins over the number four, five and nine seeds. He was a three-time national qualifier for the Golden Flashes.
DePalma won the 2016 Mid-American Conference Championship and placed third at the MAC Championships both his sophomore and junior seasons. He went 2-2 at Nationals, including a win over seventh seed Gus Sako of Virginia. He totaled 11 wins over nationally-ranked opponents.
As a Fighting Scot, DePalma finished third at the PSAC Championships and fifth at the EWL Championships. He was named to the 2013 Amateur Wrestling News All-Rookie Team.
Overall, DePalma had 97 wins in his collegiate career.
