ITHACA, N.Y. -- Zach Tanelli, who has elevated programs in every major Division I wrestling conference as a head and associate head coach during his nearly two decades on the sidelines, has been named Associate Head Coach at Cornell it was announced today by Mike Grey '11, the David Dunlop '59 Head Coach of Wrestling.
"I am thrilled to bring Zach on board to Cornell," Grey said. "We've known each other since youth wrestling in New Jersey, and I know what an incredible competitor, hard worker and leader we are adding to the staff. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from his All-American career at Wisconsin and his coaching in the Big Ten, ACC, EIWA and Ivy League. I couldn't be more excited."
"I'm grateful to Mike, his staff and the entire Cornell community for welcoming my family to Ithaca," Tanelli said. "Cornell Wrestling has proven to be one of the most elite programs in the nation over the past quarter-century and I am humbled to be a part of it. I am eager to honor that tradition, to make an impact and to serve each of our student-athletes."
In Tanelli's most recent position as Associate Head Coach at Virginia Tech, he made a significant impact working with the lightweights. In his first season with the Hokies, Eddie Ventresca and Connor McGonagle earned All-America status and ACC titles. A year ago, Tanelli helped guide a pair of freshmen, Aaron Seidel and Collin Gaj, to All-America seasons.
Tanelli previously lifted the Columbia program to new heights as head coach from 2016-24. Among the school records broken during his tenure: most NCAA qualifiers in a season, most Division I dual meet wins in a season, highest team placement at the EIWA Tournament, and most team points at the EIWA Championships. Before he arrived in New York City, Columbia had just eight total top-five team finishes at the EIWA Championships. With Tanelli at the helm, the team finished in the top five at the conference tournament three years in a row and featured five of the nine EIWA individual champions in Columbia history.
In his final campaign at Columbia, the Lions boasted their first All-American since 2013 and sixth in school history (Lennox Wolak), while Wolak and Aaron Ayzerov both captured EIWA titles - the first time Columbia had two tournament winners since 1935. During Tanelli's tenure, the Lions featured 18 individual Academic All-Americans and beat No. 15 Northern Iowa for their highest-ranked all-time dual meet win.
Prior to his time at Columbia, Tanelli was an assistant coach at Purdue for two years after beginning his coaching career at Hofstra, where he served as Head Assistant Coach and Interim Head Coach.
Tanelli also had significant success as a competitor. In 2009, he took fourth place at the NCAA Tournament to earn All-American honors for the University of Wisconsin. A three-time NCAA qualifier for the Badgers, he won the 141-pound Midlands Championship during a 31-win senior season and was a Big Ten finalist at that weight.
A native of New Jersey, Tanelli earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Wisconsin in 2009 and his Master's degree in Higher Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Hofstra in 2012. Tanelli and his wife, Emily, have three children - Leo, Scottie and Madison.
