Eight Notable Assistant Coaching Hires From this Offseason

Throughout the collegiate offseason, InterMat kept close tabs on all of the coaching movement. As usual, there were plenty of moves to track. As head coaches were hired, we wrote about how they were good fits at their new gigs and conducted some interviews. While a head coach is essential to a wrestling program's success, their assistant coaches are almost as important. Oftentimes, they have more direct contact with the wrestlers, be it from a recruiting standpoint or day-to-day, in the wrestling room.

With that being said, it's time to look at some of the top assistant coaching hires nationwide during the 2022 offseason. This group of eight is an eclectic mix of up-and-coming coaching stars, familiar faces, and unsung studs.


Dom Abounader (Cleveland State)

When the springtime comes and the coaching carousel begins spinning, the media can get an idea of some moves that may happen or that might "make sense" based on past relationships between coaches. One that we didn't see coming was Dom Abounader hitting the coaching scene. Abounader was a contender at Michigan from day one and never was seeded lower than ninth at his four NCAA Tournaments. Entering his senior year, Abounader had the unwanted title of "Best Senior Who Never AA'ed." Abounader shredded that image by winning a pair of wild bouts in the 2018 NCAA Round of 16 and Quarterfinals, which put him into the semis and clinched a place in the top-six.

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