Senior wrestler Dan Vallimont wishes he had more than one year of eligibility left -- he knows Penn State wrestling now has the pieces in place to resurrect itself as a national powerhouse.

First-year head coach Cael Sanderson announced he will bring two of his assistant coaches from Iowa State, in addition to keeping three Nittany Lion assistant coaches on board.

"I feel like we have a brilliant coaching staff and there's no way that Penn State can't be successful for the next few years," Vallimont said Wednesday. "The table is set. Penn State is going to become a powerhouse and I think it's going to start this year.

Sanderson's brother, Cody, and Casey Cunningham will accompany Cael to Happy Valley and become members of the Lion coaching staff. Cody Sanderson will assume the role of associate head coach and Cunningham will be the head assistant coach.

Additionally, Matt Dernlan, who served as associate head coach to Troy Sunderland last season, will stay on staff as the program's Director of Wrestling Operations. Troy Letters, last year's Director of Operations, will slide into the volunteer assistant coach position, held last year by former Nittany Lion heavyweight Aaron Anspach. Anspach will stay on and work with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club.

Vallimont said it is really important to keep members of last year's assistant coaching staff at Penn State. For him personally, each coach played a role in shaping his season as a wrestler last year.

When he was going through tough times in the beginning of the year, Vallimont said Dernlan was instrumental for the 165-pound wrestler.

"Dernlan especially has meant a lot to me," the Lake Hopatcong, NJ native said. "He was with me all last year when I was going through some struggles. He was behind me the entire time and supporting me through everything I went through."

Vallimont also said Anspach has a lot to offer as a coach. Anspach was Vallimont's teammate in the first few years of his collegiate career. Vallimont praised Letters as well, who trained with Vallimont much of last year because they are in a similar weight class.

The addition of Cunningham and Cody Sanderson to the staff doesn't come as much of a surprise. Cunningham was in Happy Valley in April after Cael Sanderson was named head coach, sitting in on meetings with the wrestlers and watching team practice.

Cunningham, the former Central Michigan standout wrestler, has worked out with Vallimont, and Vallimont said his new assistant coach "beat him up a little bit."

"Casey is a competitor, he's a good guy," Vallimont said. "He likes to work hard. He's going to make me a better wrestler."

Vallimont also said Cody Sanderson seems to be "fired up about the whole thing."

For his development as a wrestler and his team's future, Vallimont feels confident in the new coaching staff.

"I feel like I have everything I need right now," he said. "I feel like everybody here, all the assistant coaches, are all on board for Penn State and they're going to be focused. We have the perfect setup. I'm going to make the best out of this year."