Lycoming College set to name locker room in Steve Wiser '74's honor

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa., Sept. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As he gets set for his 55^th season with the Lycoming College football team, the last 51 as an assistant coach, Steve Wiser '74 will be recognized by the College with the naming of a locker room in his honor. A dedication is slated for the team's home-opener against Widener on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 12 p.m.

The naming completes a $400,000 renovation of the locker room, which included 130 new wooden lockers, carpeting, lighting, furniture, modernization of the showers and bathrooms, the installation of a mini-jumbotron to allow the team to watch film, and new murals celebrating Wiser and the football team's legacy.

Wiser began his coaching career at Lycoming following his graduation in 1974 with a major in political science and teacher certification. Initially hired by legendary Lycoming head coach Frank Girardi as a linebackers coach, Wiser took the helm as defensive coordinator in 1977. During Wiser's time on the coaching staff, the Warriors posted a record of 348-170-5 (.670) while garnering 12 NCAA playoff appearances, including two trips to the national title game. His defense topped the MAC 18 times and posted a total of 68 shutouts. Wiser was the architect of a defensive corps that changed the fortunes of the football program in the '70s before presiding over a damaging defense that won 15 conference titles in the last 44 years.

He led the Warriors to the No. 1 national ranking in total defense twice during his tenure (1975, '83). His teams also posted nation-leading numbers in rushing defense (1976, '82 and '87) and scoring defense ('99).

The Wizard, as he is known to his players, consistently helped the Warriors adapt and that was in evidence in 2023 when the team started the year 0-5 before winning five of its last six games, finishing tied for second in the Landmark Conference and winning the Cape Charles Bowl, holding a Washington & Lee team averaging more than 30 points entering the bowl game to just 17 in the 20-17 win.

"It's a great honor and very humbling," Wiser said. "A lot of people – my wife and family and of course all the student-athletes, coaches, staff, faculty, parents, fans and friends – helped me get here and I share this honor with them. I am very thankful to Coach Girardi, Coach Clark and Assistant ADs Robb Curry and Joe Guistina for letting me do what I love for so long."

About Lycoming College

Founded in 1812, Lycoming College is one of the nation's oldest and most respected liberal arts colleges. Today, our community of 1,100 active learners from 25 states and territories and 15 countries comprises a student body that is 30 percent domestic students of color or international, all of whom work with our renowned scholars to craft customized combinations of market-driven majors, minors and concentrations across our 40+ academic programs. Students compete in 19 NCAA Division III sports, participate in faculty-driven research, thrive in a robust program of internship experiences, and study abroad in more than two dozen countries. Lycoming College has one of the highest endowment-per-student ratios in the country. The institution is a member of the Annapolis Group of Liberal Arts Colleges and is recognized by The Princeton Review as one of The 389 Best Colleges. Lycoming College is dedicated to providing a high-quality liberal arts and sciences education for all students. Learn more at http://www.lycoming.edu.

SOURCE Lycoming College