OREM, Utah -- Utah Valley head coach Adam Hall has announced the hiring of Joey Lavallee. The 2017 All-American will bring a lot of experience as a four-time NCAA qualifier.

"I am so excited to welcome Joey and his wife, Ciena, to UVU Wrestling! Joey brings a wealth of knowledge of the sport and experience as an athlete at both the collegiate and senior levels," said UVU head coach Adam Hall. "I look forward to mentoring him in his journey as an emerging young coach and supporting him in his competitive career as an RTC athlete. Working closely with Athletes in Action, Joey will serve as a strong mentor for our guys. I know he is eager to get to work and will make an immediate impact."

"I am blessed with this position to be a part of a university and coaching staff with unlimited potential. I'm excited for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the athletes and the community around Utah Valley University," said UVU assistant coach Joey Lavallee.

Lavallee finished his collegiate career at Big 12 foe Missouri, where he finished 114-29 in five seasons. The Tigers competed in the Mid-Atlantic Conference (MAC), where he finished his last two seasons with an impressive 29-0 in duals and only fell twice in duals against MAC opponents in his career.

In his 2017 All-American season, he advanced to the NCAA Championship bout at 157 pounds, where he finished second before falling to the top-seeded Jason Nolf (Penn State) in the finals. Earlier in the season, he upset No. 5 Joe Smith (Oklahoma State) and No. 7 Colin Heffernan (Central Michigan).

He has gone on to train for national and international competitions and was a 2022 World Team Trials finalist. He has been involved with Athletes in Action and will continue to train at the Brunson Utah Valley Regional Training Center.

Originally hailing from Reno, Nev., he finished high school with a 206-12 record and won four state titles in Nevada. He placed third in 2010 in Fargo, and in 2011, he won the FILA Cadet National Freestyle championship while competing at 63kg. He advanced to compete for the United States and finished fifth at the Cadet World Championships.