Rev. Father George Nedeff

George Nedeff was inducted into the College of Applied Human Sciences Hall of Fame in the fall of 2025. He was previously inducted into the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Hall of Fame in 2012.

A native of Parkersburg, W.Va., Nedeff was a state champion wrestler and All-State football player at Parkersburg High School. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in physical education from WVU in 1963 and a master’s degree in secondary education in 1965. As a student-athlete, he was captain of the wrestling team and a football letterman.

He began his coaching career at Big Creek High School, where he launched the school’s first wrestling program. From 1967 to 1972, he served as head wrestling coach at WVU, compiling a 58-35-3 record. He later served as WVU’s Director of Athletic Facilities from 1972 to 1997 and was awarded the WVU Presidential Safety Award in 1996 for advancing campus-wide health policies.

Nedeff was inducted into the WVU Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Mid-Ohio Valley Hall of Fame, and in 2008 he received the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Outstanding American Award. The WVU Wrestling program annually presents the George Nedeff Outstanding Wrestler Award in his honor.

In addition to his career in athletics and administration, Nedeff served two terms on the Morgantown City Council and one term as Deputy Mayor. In 2007, after earning his theology degree from The Angelicum in Rome, he was ordained as a Catholic priest and later served as chaplain of Our Lady of Corpus Christi School in Texas. He then returned to his home state to serve in parishes across West Virginia.