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Altman named head wrestling coach at Pitt-Bradford
BRADFORD, PA. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has named Zach Altman as the university's head wrestling coach, the third head coach in the program's history.
“I am pleased to announce the hiring of Zach Altman as our new wrestling coach,” said Athletic Director Bret Butler. “He is a motivated coach, with a background of success that will be instrumental in helping our program continue to grow.”
Altman joins Pitt-Bradford from Alma (Mich.) College, where he was an assistant coach for the Scots this season. He has also spent time coaching the Ringneck Wrestling Club in Napoleon, Ohio, for three years.
He is a 2023 graduate of Adrian (Mich.) College, where he wrestled for five seasons with the Bulldogs. In 2023, as a graduate student, Altman won a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association individual conference title and qualified for the Division III NCAA national tournament. He was also part of Adrian's 2022-23 MIAA championship team, the college's first title since restarting their wrestling program in 2015.
“I am honored to be chosen to take over the program here at Pitt-Bradford,” Altman said. “The university has everything needed to build a successful wrestling program and I am excited to get to work.”
Altman will take over for Interim Head Coach Terry Schwab, who stepped in after the departure of Blake Heim, who became an assistant coach at Division II Frostburg (Md.) State University. Schwab, an experienced high school coach who has coached 11 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state place winners, will remain on the Panthers' coaching staff as an assistant. He is a member of the PIAA District 9 Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Pitt-Bradford's wrestling program began competing at the DIII level in 2018 after several years as a club sport.