Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – First-year Virginia Tech head coach Tony Robie announced Thursday the hiring of four-time NCAA All-American and 2016-17 USA Wrestling National Team member Tyler Graff as director of performance-wrestling.
Graff, the 133-pound NCAA runner-up in 2014 while at Wisconsin, placed third at the Olympic Trials in 2012 and 2016. Along with his duties on Robie’s staff, Graff will continue to train in freestyle with the Southeast Regional Training Center.
“We’re all incredibly excited to add Tyler to our staff. Tyler’s toughness, work ethic, discipline and lifestyle embodies everything that we convey to our guys on a daily basis,” Robie said. “As a competitor, Tyler has won at every level in our sport and will bring that same mindset and knowledge to our program. He will also be a tremendous addition to the Southeast Regional Training Center as a resident athlete, as he trains for the 2020 Olympic games.”
In Madison, Graff registered a career record of 128-25 and never finished lower than fifth in the country in four years. He won his first of three University Nationals championships in 2010 and was a Junior World Team Member in 2007. Graff wrestled for current Tech assistant coach Jared Frayer at Wisconsin, where the two helped lead the Badgers to consecutive top-10 finishes in 2010 and 2011.
After graduation, the Loveland, Colorado native won the 2015 Dave Schulz Memorial, placed second at U.S. World Team Trials and third at Olympic Trials in 2016. Graff was a four-time Colorado high school state champion and compiled a 162-1 record.
Graff joins Frayer and assistant coach Frank Molinaro as Hokie coaches who have been named to a national team.
Career Highlights (via USA Wrestling)
- Third in U.S. Olympic Team Trials (2012, 2016)
- Three-time University Nationals champion (2010, 2013, 2015)
- 2007 U.S. Junior World Team member
- 2016 U.S. World Team Trials runner-up
- 2017 Pan American champion
- Two-time Dave Schultz Memorial International champion (2015, 2017)
- 2015 Bill Farrell International champion
- 2016 Canada Cup champion
- Second in 2014 NCAA Championships for University of Wisconsin
- Four-time NCAA All-American