Just over four months ago, standout sophomore Darrion Caldwell finished fifth at the NCAA Wrestling Tournament and became N.C. State’s first all-American in more than a decade.
Two months ago, Caldwell made his intention to transfer public and spoke out against his coach and the wrestling program.
And now, as the fall semester gets closer, Caldwell has mended his relationship with coach Carter Jordan and decided to return to Raleigh and finish his career in red and white while chasing his dreams both on and off the mat.
As much as Jordan wishes he could erase the last four months of miscommunication and public “airing of laundry,” he said both he and Caldwell have learned from their recent difficulties, and their relationship is improving to where it once was.
“I certainly learned something as a coach,” Jordan said of the situation. “I should have been having more conversations with Darrion and his father together as opposed to having them separately so that we were all on the same page all the time. That’s something I chalk up to experience.”
Caldwell, too, admits he could have better handled the disagreement with Jordan and said he now sees Raleigh, and his place with the Pack, as where he needs to be.
“Even though I made it public that I wanted to transfer, Coach Jordan never said anything negative about me transferring,” Caldwell said. “He’s always been supportive and tried to help me however he could — he stuck by my side throughout the time I was thinking about transferring.”
While Caldwell initially decided to transfer because of what he called a “need to be closer to home” and a desire to play Division I football, Jordan denied the necessary transfer exception Caldwell had to have in order to be immediately eligible at another school. Had he decided to leave, Caldwell would have been forced to sit out a year.
Jordan said he believes it was extremely difficult for Caldwell to deal with the fact that he was not being allowed to transfer and get “exactly what he wanted.”
“Growing up, if you’re an exceptional athlete, you get what you want all the time,” Jordan said. “I think he thought he could parlay his wrestling into getting on the football team, and that is not the way to do it. He understands that– he doesn’t want to be given anything.”
Jordan said since Caldwell decided to come back he has been in a great frame of mind and working hard. He even helped with a wrestling camp Jordan held during the past two weeks, something which both said helped a relationship which has had several rough spots since March.
“The best thing for our relationship was the fact I had Darrion work our wrestling camp,” Jordan said. “I saw Darrion virtually morning, noon and night for nine straight days. He worked incredibly hard, and he did his job, so that was extremely helpful.”
Caldwell said his time at the camp not only helped him and Jordan patch up their relationship but also made him realize being in Raleigh and with the Pack is truly the right thing for him.
“Being around Coach Jordan at camp made me realize he is the type of person I want to surround myself with,” he said. “He is the coach I need, the coach who will push me and make me the best wrestler I can possibly be.”
In August, Caldwell will continue to chase his dreams off the mat when he will attempt to earn a walk-on spot on the football team. Caldwell’s goals of winning a national championship in wrestling and making a Division I football roster are things which Jordan said he knows Caldwell can accomplish.
“He’s a young man who can accomplish anything he wants to if he’s willing to put his mind to it and work,” Jordan said. “I don’t think there is any question about that.”?
