Nate Engel (San Jose, Calif./California RTC/Stanford University) has been named 2019 Greco-Roman Coach of the Year by USA Wrestling. It is the first time that Engel has won this prestigious award.
Engel works as an assistant wrestling coach for Stanford University, and serves as the director of the California Regional Training Center, which is affiliated with Stanford. The California RTC provides opportunities for both men and women in the international styles.
Engel served as the volunteer coach for the 2019 U.S. Junior World Greco-Roman team, which had a historic performance at the Junior World Championships in Tallinn, Estonia. For the first time in history, the United States had three Junior World Greco-Roman medalists during the same year, with silver medalist Cohlton Schultz at 130 kg, plus bronze medalists Alston Nutter at 63 kg and Peyton Omania at 67 kg.
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He also organized an international training camp in Finland with U.S. Junior Greco-Roman athletes in preparation for the World Championships.
Engel also served as a coach with the 2018 U.S. Junior Greco World Team at the Junior World Championships in Trnava, Slovakia. The United States had two Junior World medalists in 2018, silver medalist Andrew Berreyesa at 82 kg and bronze medalist Cohlton Schultz at 130 kg.
He regularly participates in U.S. Greco-Roman training camps for both Senior-level and age-group level athletes. Engel has coached a number of teams on international tours, including serving on the coaching staff of the 2015 U.S. Cadet World Greco-Roman team.
On the college coaching level, in his first season as a coach with Stanford, he helped lead the Cardinal to its first Pac-12 team title.
Engel previously served an assistant coach for the U.S. Naval Academy from 2014-18. He also held a coaching position with the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2013.
He was a nationally-respected Greco-Roman wrestler as a competitor, starting his international career training at Northern Michigan University under respected coach Ivan Ivanov. Later in his career, he was a member of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete program. Engel was a two-time National Team member in Greco-Roman.
Engel was the runner-up at the 2013 World Team Trials. He was also the Maccabiah Games Champion in both Freesyle and Greco-Roman at 55 kg in 2013, while taking home a bronze medal in 2017. Engel was also a University Nationals champion.
He won the 2012 Haparanda Cup in Sweden and the 2009 Sunkist Kids International Open. He took silver at the 2013 Haavisto Tournament in Finland and bronze medals at the New York AC International in 2011 and the S.A. Lavrikov Cup in Russia in 2013.
Engel was an All-American at Missouri Valley College and a four-time NAIA qualifier prior to his Greco-Roman career. His college career started at William Penn University. He attended St. Helena High School in California and Pasco High School in Florida.
PAST GRECO-ROMAN COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
2019 – Nate Engel, San Jose, Calif., California RTC/Stanford University
2018 – Spenser Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army WCAP
2017 – Herb House, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC/OTC
2016 – Brandon Paulson, Coon Rapids, Minn., Minnesota Storm
2015 – Jason Loukides, Camp LeJeune, N.C., U.S. Marine Corps
2014 – Dan Chandler, Minneapolis, Minn., Minnesota Storm
2013 – Joe Russell, Fairfax, Va., Patriot Elite WC
2012 – Dan Chandler, Minneapolis, Minn. Minnesota Storm
2011 – Shon Lewis, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army
2010 – Dan Hicks, Camp LeJeune, N.C., U.S. Marine Corps
2009 – Ivan Ivanov, Boise, Idaho, Suples WC and USOEC
2008 – Brandon Paulson, Anoka, Minn., Minnesota Storm
2007 – Jay Antonelli, Chesapeake, Va., U.S Marines
2006 – Shon Lewis, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army
2005 – Shawn Sheldon, West Palm Beach, Fla., New York AC
2004 – Andy Seras, Sandy Hook, Conn., Sunkist Kids
2003 – Shon Lewis, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army
2002 – Shon Lewis, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army
2001 – Andy Seras, Sandy Hook, Conn., Sunkist Kids
2000 – Dan Chandler, Minneapolis, Minn., Minnesota Storm
1999 – Dan Chandler, Minneapolis, Minn., Minnesota Storm
1998 – Jay Antonelli, Quantico, Va., U.S. Marines
1997 – Dan Chandler, Minneapolis, Minn., Minnesota Storm
1996 – Rob Hermann, Pensacola, Fla., U.S. Navy
1995 – Dan Chandler, Minneapolis, Minn., Minnesota Storm
1994 – Dan Chandler, Minneapolis, Minn., Minnesota USA Wrestling
1993 – Tony Thomas, Fort Benning, Ga., U.S. Army
1992 – Rob Hermann, Pensacola, Fla., U.S. Navy
