Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech head coach Tony Robie has been named one of eight finalists for the Theraworx NWCA National Coach of the Year award, the organization announced Friday.
In his first season as head coach, Robie has continued the Hokies' run of success in the ACC and on the national stage. Robie recently led the Hokies to its second straight ACC Championship, a final ranking of No. 10 in the NWCA Coaches Poll and a 14-3 record in dual meets where Robie started five freshmen for a majority of the season.
At the ACC Championship, Robie coached seven finalists and four Hokies to individual titles, including redshirt freshman Brent Moore, who took home Most Valuable Wrestler honors.
Robie's 14 dual meet victories ranks second in the ACC record book for most wins by a first-year head coach behind Wade Schalles' 15 wins with Clemson in 1978. His .824 winning percentage ranks third all-time in ACC history for a rookie head coach. In Virginia Tech history, Robie's winning percentage ranks first among rookie head coaches while his 14 wins ranks second behind Tom Brands' 16 dual meet wins in 2004-05.
Robie also helped redshirt sophomore David McFadden post a 29-0 record at 165 pounds during the regular season and redshirt senior Jared Haught rise to the top spot of Intermat's individual rankings at 197 pounds. McFadden was the first Hokie since Scott Justus in 2001-02 to finish the regular season undefeated while Haught became only the third Tech wrestler to be ranked No. 1.
Robie looks to become the second Virginia Tech head coach to receive NWCA Coach of the Year honors after Kevin Dresser took home the award in 2016.
The National Wrestling Coaches Association is pleased to announce the establishment of the Theraworx Coach of the Year program.
The award is presented to the coach that has demonstrated outstanding effort throughout the season in developing and elevating their program on campus and in the community.
The winner of this award, for Division I, will be announced on Tuesday, March 13, in Cleveland, Ohio prior to the National Championship tournament.
In 2016, The National Wrestling Coaches Association partnered with Theraworx, for Theraworx to become the Official Prevention Partner of the NWCA. Theraworx Protect, is a topical formulation that optimizes and preserves the skin's natural antimicrobial function.
THERAWORX NWCA COACH OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
Tom Ryan, Ohio State
Scott Moore, Lock Haven
John Mark Bentley, Appalachian State
Brian Smith, Missouri
Dave Bollard, Eastern Michigan
Pat Popolizio, NC State
Tony Robie, Virginia Tech
Pat Santoro, Lehigh