Pat Popolizio took the head coaching job at North Carolina State because he believed he could turn it into a strong program.

Popolizio wrestled at Oklahoma State in the early 2000s for head coach John Smith. Last summer, Smith and Popolizio were talking when Pop said he expected North Carolina State to finish in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships, and that if they didn't, it would be a disappointing season.

Smith looked at him and simply said, "You're crazy."

It's not that Coach Smith doesn't have faith in Popolizio. He just felt it was nearly impossible for any program to rise that quickly. It's one thing to go from 20th to 15th, but it's a lot more challenging to go from 15th to 10th.

This speaks volumes of the expectations that Popolizio has brought to NC State. What the most decorated American wrestler ever thought was crazy, Coach Popolizio believed should be an expectation for his program.

Although North Carolina State didn't finish in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships, their season was anything but a disappointment.

They went 23-1 in dual meets, which included wins at Oklahoma State and Iowa. Then, they won the ACC Tournament. Later, the Wolfpack qualified eight of 10 wrestlers to the NCAA Championships and came away with three All-Americans, which earned them an 11th-place finish; just 1.5 points outside the top 10.

If you compare the state of the Wolfpack's wrestling program when Popolizio arrived as head coach four years ago to where they are today, it's truly remarkable.

Go behind the scenes with North Carolina State as they compete in the 2016 NCAA Championships in All-Access Running With The Wolves. Episode two airs tomorrow, and episode three will air on Wednesday, May 3.


WATCH All Access NC State: Running With The Wolves