Hatcher named volunteer assistant wrestling coach

Mike Hatcher can add college wrestling coach to his resume. Hatcher was named volunteer assistant wrestling coach Wednesday at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, joining head coach Heath Eslinger's staff.

Hatcher also will run the Chattanooga Wrestling Club. He had coached preps the last 12 years in Durant, Florida and Tennessee.

“I spent the better part of my professional career teaching and coaching at the high school level,” Hatcher said. “It'll be a new challenge.”

Hatcher, a four-year University of Iowa letterwinner (1993-96) and Cedar Rapids Prairie state medalist, praised Hawkeye coaches Tom and Terry Brands and former coaches Dan Gable and Jim Zalesky for encouraging him to promote the sport.

“Our club has really taken off,” Hatcher said. “We started practice three weeks ago and our first session is three times bigger than I anticipated.”

Iowa assistant Terry Brands introduced Hatcher to Eslinger, who was an assistant for Brands at UTC. Hatcher was Eslinger's assistant the last two years at Cleveland (Tenn.) High School.

“We have a really good working relationship,” Hatcher said. “The last two years up here have been very good.”

Eslinger knew Hatcher would be an asset at UTC.

“I know he is going to be a huge part of our success at UTC,” Eslinger said in a news release. “He has learned from the best during his days at Iowa and has the ability to convey that knowledge to our student-athletes.”