UTC wrestling assistant coaches promoted

New University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling coach Kyle Ruschell announced his staff for the 2018-19 season Friday.

Nick Brascetta was elevated from assistant coach to the top assistant position, while Hunter Gamble, a volunteer coach last season, has been promoted to a full-time assistant.

Former Moc Scottie Boykin, a 2018 Southern Conference champion who made three appearances in the NCAA tournament, is now a volunteer assistant.

“I am very excited about this group,” Ruschell said in a release. “They all have a passion for wrestling, and you can tell they all care about our student-athletes. We have been working hard over the last month to prepare for the upcoming season, and it is evident that they have the knowledge and skills to help continue the winning tradition of our program.”

Brascetta, a former All-American at Virginia Tech, has made the jump from coordinator of student-athlete development to assistant coach to top assistant in his three seasons. Gamble was a 2013 SoCon champion at Gardner-Webb and winner of 88 career matches.

“Nick and I hit it off from the beginning,” Ruschell said. “He has a great reputation as a wrestler and is growing his résumé as a coach. He has a strong attention to detail on the administrative side of things and will be a tremendous asset to me for years to come.

“Hunter is great for our guys in the room. He was a tremendous Southern Conference wrestler and brings a championship mentality to every workout.”

Boykin was a two-time conference champion.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to keep Scottie around,” Ruschell said. “The guys have a tremendous amount of respect for him, and he can help set the tone for success, both on and off the mat.”

The Mocs have their Blue-Gold intrasquad match at First Tennessee Pavilion prior to the football team’s Oct. 27 homecoming game against Virginia Military Institute. They start the season in the Hokie Open on Nov. 4 and will host North Carolina at Maclellan Gymnasium on Nov. 11.

Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com.