Thursday, June 04, 2009
- by B. B. Branton
UT-Chattanooga wrestling head coach Chris Bono has resigned and has accepted an assistant coaching position at his alma mater, Iowa State.
Bono was the UTC coach for three seasons (2007-2009) with a 40-17 win-loss record and led the Mocs to three Southern Conference wrestling team championships.
In those three seasons, his teams were undefeated in SoCon matches (15-0), produced 18 SoCon individual champions and two NCAA champions in Matt Keller (4th, 2008) and Cody Cleveland (8th, 2008).
Bono ranks fourth among 11 coaches on the all-time win list for Moc wrestling coaches and second (70.2%) in win percentage to Jim Morgan (75.1%). Morgan (1968-1984) is also first in career wins (203-67-1).
The 1996 NCAA champion for the Cyclones will be an assistant under new head coach Kevin Jackson. Bono served as an assistant coach at ISU for nine years (1997-2005) before coming to UTC.
The Mocs will also be searching for an assistant coach as Nate Gallick, Bono's assistant the past two seasons, has accepted a position at Iowa State as a volunteer coach. Gallick was a 2006 NCAA champion at Iowa State.
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net
UT-Chattanooga Wrestling Coaches (11 Coaches; 63 years - 1947-2009)
Total Wins (517-297-12 63.3%)
Jim Morgan (1969-1984), 16 years; 203–67-1
Andy Nardo (1953-1968) 16 years; 78-37-4
Ethan Reeve (1985-1990), 6 years; 57-38-1
Mark Leen (1996-2001), 6 years; 43-35-1
Chris Bono (2007-2009), 3 years; 40-17-0
Ralph Manning (1991-1995), 5 years; 32-28-0
Terry Brands (2003-2005), 3 years; 31-33-0
Joe Seay (2006), 1 year; 16-8-1
Franky James (2002), 1 year; 9-8-0
Ken Carpenter (1947-1951), 5 years; 5-21-4
Russ Skall (1952), 1 year; 3-5-0
Win Percentage
Jim Morgan (1969-1984), 16 years; 203–67-1 (75.1%)
Chris Bono (2007-2009), 3 years; 40-17 (70.2%)
Andy Nardo (1953-1968) 16 years; 78-37-4 (67.2%)
Joe Seay (2006), 1 year; 16-8-1 (66.0%)
Ethan Reeve (1985-1990), 6 years; 57-38-1 (59.8%)
Mark Leen (1996-2001), 6 years; 43-35-1 (55.1%)
Ralph Manning (1991-1995), 5 years; 32-28-0 (53.3%)
Franky James (2002), 1 year; 9-8-0 (52.9%)
Terry Brands (2003-2005), 3 years; 31-33-0 (48.4%)
Russ Skall (1952), 1 year; 3-5-0 (37.5%)
Ken Carpenter (1947-1951), 5 years; 5-21-4 (23.3%)