Hokies wrestling great Ty Walz returns home as assistant coachHokies wrestling great Ty Walz returns home as assistant coach
Wrestling

Hokies wrestling great Ty Walz returns home as assistant coach

Head coach Tony Robie adds three-time All-American and most credentialed heavyweight in program history to coaching staff ahead of 2026-2027 season

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BLACKSBURG – One of the greatest athletes, and the most credentialed heavyweight in program history, to ever don the orange and maroon returns to his alma mater. Virginia Tech wrestling head coach Tony Robie announced the addition of Ty Walz as assistant coach to complete the Hokies’ coaching staff ahead of the 2026-2027 season.

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We should all be excited about Ty and his family returning to Blacksburg. Ty’s success on the mat as a Hokie was built on work ethic, perseverance, and toughness. He played a major role in helping elevate Virginia Tech Wrestling during his time as an athlete here. After gaining valuable experience as a recruiter and coach at Brown over the past several years, I’m confident his influence will help accelerate the upward trajectory of our program.

Tony RobieHead Coach

Walz returns to Blacksburg after a three-year tenure in Providence, Rhode Island where he was instrumental in the recruitment and development of Andrew Reall and Alex Semeneko. Both unranked recruits out of high school, Walz guided Reall to an individual Ivy League Conference title, 2026 NCAA Championship Round of 12 finish, and a tied program best 37-6 season record. In addition, he coached Semeneko to an Ivy League finals appearance, an NCAA Championship berth, and finishing the season in the top ten pinfall list across the NCAA twice.

I am honored to be coming home to my alma mater as an Assistant Coach. This opportunity is an answered prayer for my family and me. I am returning to a much different team than the one I departed from three years ago. The expectations and momentum surrounding this program are at an all-time high. I am prepared to pour every ounce of myself into helping the young men in this program reach their highest potential. Go Hokies. This IS Home.”

Ty WalzAssistant Coach

Prior to his stint in Providence, Walz served on staff in Blacksburg for three seasons, helping guide Jared Haught to an NCAA finals appearance – just the second finalist in program history at the time. Walz was also instrumental in Zack Zavatsky’s development into a two-time All-American and three-time ACC champion for Tech during his time in Blacksburg.

As a Virginia Tech athlete, Walz became the only three-time heavyweight All-American for the Hokies and also claiming an individual ACC title. Walz was part of the only trophy team in program history – a fourth-place finish at the 2016 NCAA Championships – and was the first world medalist for Hokies Wrestling, capturing bronze at the 2018 U23 World Championships. Walz returns to Blacksburg with his wife Deej and their two daughters, Carter and Emma.