Story Links
July 24, 2007
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia wrestling head coach Steve Garland has announced the hiring of Matt Pell as assistant coach. Pell comes to Virginia after an outstanding career at Missouri, where he was a two-time All-American and team captain in 2006-07 as the Tigers earned their best-ever finish (third) at the 2007 NCAA Championships.
“Matt has been successful at every level in our sport,” Garland said. “His accomplishments on the wrestling mat are impressive, but more importantly Matt is an intelligent, personable and hard-working guy and his passion for becoming a successful college coach is contagious.”
Pell had a 121-35 career record at Mizzou. He was a four-time NCAA qualifier and earned All-America honors in 2005 at 184 pounds and 2007 at 165 pounds. In 2007, Pell took third place at the NCAA Championships and earned the Manuel Gorrarian Award after recording the most pins in the least accumulative time. Pell had four pins at the NCAA Championships as a senior, taking a combined 22:46 in those matches. He led the Tigers to the third-place trophy at the 2007 NCAA Championships, marking Missouri’s first team trophy in any sport since the 1965 indoor track and field team won the national title.
“I am excited to get in the wrestling room with the student-athletes and help the University of Virginia excel,” Pell said. “It is a great opportunity for me. I have always wanted to coach. It is a big passion of mine and I have learned a lot already under Coach (Brian) Smith at Missouri. I’m looking forward to working with Coach Garland and continuing to learn.”
Pell won the 163-pound title at the 2005 University National Team Trials, then moved on to the Pan American Championships in Guatemala, where he claimed the bronze medal. He also was a 2006 World Trials qualifier and two-time Big 12 runner-up.
Pell became an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Missouri in May, where he developed training schedules and weight programs and assisted in weight lifting and conditioning programs. He also was head instructor for the TigerStyle Wrestling Camp this summer and over the previous four summers at seven camps.
A native of Luxemburg, Wis., Pell also has experience as a camp clinician at the Martin’s Granby School of Wrestling.
Pell earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in May from Missouri. He is a 2002 graduate from Luxemburg-Casco High School.