Virginia Wrestling Names Chuckie Connor Assistant Coach
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Aug. 30, 2001
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – University of Virginia head wrestling coach Lenny Bernstein has announced that Chuckie Connor has been named an assistant wrestling coach at UVa. Connor will serve as Bernstein’s second assistant coach, joining current UVa assistant wrestling coach Jim Harshaw on the staff. Connor replaces former Cavalier assistant coach Andre Dreher, who was with the UVa program the past two seasons.
Connor, a native of Levittown, Pa., joins the Virginia coaching staff with a wealth of collegiate wrestling experience. He was a member of the University of North Carolina wrestling program from 1996-2000 and has an outstanding career at UNC. During his career at North Carolina, Connor posted a record of 104-20 overall, good for a .840 career winning percentage. As a senior, he posted a record of 11-2 and was ranked as high as #4 in the country at 125 lbs. During his junior season at UNC, Connor turned in a record of 36-6 overall, 12-1 in dual matches and won ten bouts by fall at 125 lbs. He finished second in the 1998-1999 Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestling Championships to former Virginia All-American Matt Roth, and placed in the top 12 in the NCAA Championships. He was named to the `98-’99 All-ACC wrestling team.
As a sophomore, Connor posted a record of 34-6 overall, 14-1 in dual match action with 15 wins coming by fall. He finished in the top 12 in the NCAA Championships and was only the third Tar Heel in the history of UNC wrestling to be named the ACC Wrestler of the Year after gathering the honor for the 1997-1998 season. Connor won the ACC Championships at 118 lbs and was named to the `97-’98 All-ACC wrestling team. In his first season at North Carolina, Connor was named a freshman All-American and was the 1996-1997 ACC Champion and an NCAA qualifier at 118 lbs. Connor recorded a 21-8 record overall, 9-2 in dual matches with nine victories coming by fall and was named to the `96-’97 All-ACC wrestling team.
Connor was the Pennsylvania state champion at Pennsbury High School his senior year and was the state runner-up during his junior season. He finished his career at Pennsbury with a record of 130-5 overall, with 84 wins by fall. Connor was also a three-time district and sectional champion. After his high school career at Pennsbury H.S., Connor was ranked the #2 recruit in the country by Amateur Wrestling News and was a prep All-America selection.
Bernstein recognizes the knowledge and experience that Connor brings to the UVa wrestling program and is excited to have such a quality member on his coaching staff.
“We feel very fortunate to bring Chuckie Connor to our staff. He was an exceptional wrestler at North Carolina,” said Bernstein. “After being a huge thorn in our side for so many years (at UNC), he is going to be a tremendous help to our lightweights. Chuckie knows what it takes to be nationally competitive and our team will benefit from his experience.”