Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech wrestling's head coach Tony Robie announced the addition of Zach Tanelli as Associate Head Coach of the program on Monday, April 22, 2024. Tanelli comes to Blacksburg after eight seasons in New York City as the head wrestling coach at Columbia University. No stranger to the mats, Tanelli brings 15 years of coaching experience on top of an All-American finish, three trips to the NCAA Wrestling Championships, a finalist at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships, and a Ken Kraft Midlands Championships title as a student-athlete for the University of Wisconsin.
"We could not be more excited to have Zach and his family join the Virginia Tech Wrestling Family," Robie mentioned. "You can't overstate how great of a job Zach did building a winning culture at Columbia. Getting another coach on staff that has the experience and skill set to excel in every aspect of this job is what we were looking for. Zach undoubtedly checks all those boxes. He also brings incredible wrestling knowledge that will help our entire roster, especially our lower weights, accomplish their goals. Zach was the first and person we pursued and are grateful that he and his family want to call Blacksburg home. We can't wait to get to work and continue our pursuit of greatness."
At the helm for the Lions from 2016-2024, Tanelli made a monumental impact on the program, setting school records in Division I and EIWA conference dual meet wins in a season, highest team placement at the EIWA Championships, team points at the EIWA Championships, and individual NCAA Championships qualifiers in a season.
"My family and I want to thank Coach Robie, Coach Frayer, Coach Haught, and all at Virginia Tech Athletics for giving us the opportunity to join their program. This is a very special place and I'm humbled to be viewed as someone who can add value to their established culture. I'm excited to get to work and see the impact I can make," said Tanelli.
The 2023-24 campaign was a banner year for Tanelli at Columbia. They crowned their first All-American since 2013, and only their sixth in program history, in Lennox Wolak (174-pounds). Additionally, Tanelli coached both Wolak and Aaron Ayzerov (184-pounds) to EIWA Championship titles, the first time the program has seen multiple tournament champions since 1935. During his tenure, Tanelli was responsible for five of Columbia's nine total EIWA Champions in over a 75-year period. With just eight top-5 team finishes at the EIWA Championships all-time, Columbia Wrestling ended the season in the top-5 at the EIWA Championships in each of Tanelli's final three years in NYC. The team also recorded their highest dual meet victory ever over No. 15 Northern Iowa. Academically, the Lions were recognized as a Top-30 NCAA Scholar All-American Team six times during his time leading the program, highlighting 18 individual Academic All-Americans.
"My eight seasons as Head Coach at Columbia were incredibly fulfilling. My student-athletes and coaching staff are the things I am most proud of – we created something unique that I believe embodied the grit and tenacity of New York City. I have tremendous gratitude for Columbia Wrestling, the men I coached and the families that gave me the privilege of training their sons and daughters. They are built on solid foundation, and I am confident they will finish the work we started."
Before his time at Columbia, Tanelli spent two years as an assistant coach at Purdue University from 2014-2016 where he would help send a total of 11 student-athletes to the NCAA Championships. He guided Purdue to its first Midlands tournament champion since 1963 in Chad Welch (165) and helped see the team to a 10-win season in 2014-15. Tanelli was instrumental on the recruiting trail for the Boilermakers with a FloWrestling-ranked sixth best recruiting class of 2016.
Prior to his time at Purdue, Tanelli climbed his way through the coaching ranks, serving as interim head coach and head assistant coach at Hofstra University to begin his coaching career. Tanelli's impact was immediate across the board for Hofstra, particularly with the lightweights. The former Badger coached four All-Americans and helped guide 12 individual conference champions for the Pride during his five-year stint in Hempstead.
A three-time NCAA qualifier, Tanelli earned a fourth-place podium finish to earn All-America honors in 2009. He completed his senior year with a 31-6 record, including an undefeated 7-0 record against Big Ten opponents during the dual season. Tanelli was ranked No. 1 in the country for the second half of the 2008-2009 season after winning the 141-pound Midlands Championship, before a runner-up finish at the 2009 Big Ten Championships.
A native of Millburn, New Jersey, Tanelli earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Wisconsin in 2009 and his master's degree in Higher Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Hofstra in 2012. Tanelli and his wife, Emily, along with their three children, Leo, Scottie, and Madison will now call Blacksburg home.