Pitt announced a $3 million philanthropic gift to its wrestling squad Wednesday morning, constituting the single largest donation in program history.

The contribution, given anonymously, will “provide essential financial support for the program, including operational expenses, increased investment in the holistic student-athlete experience and additional athletic scholarships,” per Pitt’s release.

“As the financial landscape of college athletics continues to shift, leadership gifts such as this are vital to the long-term sustainability and viability of all of our programs to remain competitive and support our student-athletes,” athletic director Allen Greene added.

“We are deeply grateful to this donor for their extraordinary generosity and their commitment to our student-athletes and coaches. We trust this gift will inspire others to step forward, allowing us to ensure continued stability for our programs and the ability to continue providing a transformational student-athlete experience here at Pitt.”

Pitt wrestling has been led by coach Keith Gavin, a Factoryville native and 2008 Panthers alum, since 2017.

Under his guidance, Pitt has placed in the Top 30 at the NCAA Championships six straight times, producing four national semifinalists, three finalists and one national champion.

In 2023, Pitt won a share of the ACC dual title while earning second-place finishes at the ACC Championships in 2025 and 2020.

Gavin himself was a national champion as a student-athlete at Pitt in 2008.

“We’re incredibly grateful for this gift and the belief it represents in our program, our student-athletes, and the future of wrestling here,” Gavin said. “This is a transformational moment for us and we are committed to honoring this gift every day.”

The Panthers last season went 11-4 (3-3 ACC).