Nate Gallick, a three-time wrestling All-America and 2006 NCAA Wrestling Champion, has accepted the position as assistant wrestling coach, UTC Head Wrestling Coach Chris Bono announced.
A 2007 graduate of Bono’s alma mater, Iowa State University, with a degree in Sociology, Gallick spent the 2006-07 season as a volunteer with the Cyclones’ coaching staff. Gallick worked with the ISU lightweights, and the Cyclones claimed the Big 12 Conference Championship and placed second at the NCAAs.
“Nate is going to be a tremendous fit for our program,” Bono said. “I’ve never heard anybody say a bad word about him. He’s done a great job working with the athletes at Iowa State. He’s still competing and has a chance to make the World and Olympic Team and that’s great for our program to bring in someone of his caliber.
“I coached Nate at Iowa State, and we come from the same system. Nate’s an excellent instructor, an excellent technician and a real student of the game.”
Gallick won the 141-pound Big 12 Conference title three times as a sophomore, junior and senior. Prior to winning the NCAA title as a senior in 2006, Gallick also picked up All-America honors with a second-place finish in 2005 and a fifth-place finish in 2004. He compiled 109 career victories.
Like Bono, Gallick won a U.S. Freestyle National Championship in April, his coming at the 60 kilograms division. Gallick’s wrestle off at the U.S. World Team Trials, supposed to take place last week in Las Vegas, was postponed because of an injury. As the No. 1 seed, Gallick is scheduled to face 2006 World Silver Medalist Mike Zadick.
“I feel that I have a lot to offer Coach Bono and the program,” Gallick said. “I think I can help Coach Bono continue to make the strides he made with the program in his first season. Plus, he is going to allow me to continue to train.”
A native of Tucson, Ariz., Gallick was a High School All-America at Sunnyside High School, where he won state titles at 119 and 125 pounds. He also claimed Freestyle and Greco-Roman National Championships.