Hokie ClubJared Haught enters his fifth season as an assistant coach at his alma mater.
Haught was instrumental in upperweight success in 2023-2024 season - guiding redshirt freshman TJ Stewart to an ACC title and All-American finish at 184-pounds and mentoring Mekhi Lewis in his final year to become the second four-time ACC champion and the first four-time NCAA All-American in program history. Haught also guided Andy Smith and Hunter Catka both to bloodround finishes at the 2024 NCAA Championships at 197-pounds and heavyweight, respectively.
In 2022-2023, Haught proved pivotal in helping Mekhi Lewis make more history for the Hokies to become the program's first two-time national finalist. Lewis made his return to the mat after a season-ending injury the previous season to claim an ACC title at 174-pounds as the No. 3 seed - defeating No. 1 seed Clay Lautt of North Carolina and No. 2 seed Hayden Hidlay of NC State - and claim the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler award. Lewis would also be voted as ACC Wrestler of the Year under Haught's guidance, also first time a Hokie had been tabbed by the conference. In addition, Haught mentored Hunter Bolen in becoming the Hokies' first five-time NCAA Qualifier and a five-time ACC place-winner. At heavyweight, Hunter Catka would also qualify for the NCAA Championships after a runner-up finish at the ACC Championships under Haught's tutelage. In one of the most electric duals in program history, Haught was instrumental in Andy Smith's preparation en route to a dual-sealing victory over NC State's Isaac Trumble who was ranked No. 5 at the time.
2021-2022 saw Haught assist in helping lead 184-pounder Hunter Bolen to an ACC finals appearance and a seventh-place All-American at the 2022 NCAA Championships. In addition, Haught was instrumental in mentoring Nathan Traxler to heavyweight national rankings throughout the season, an ACC title, and a bloodround finish in St. Louis.
In his first season on staff in 2019 after a year haitus from wrestling, Haught helped mentor heavyweight John Borst to a national ranking during the 2019-20 season. Borst was a 2020 NCAA Qualifier and earned third place at the 2020 ACC Championships. Haught also worked with Hunter Bolen, who won the 184-pound title at the 2020 ACC Championships and was the No. 2 seed for the 2020 NCAAs.
Haught was a two-time ACC champion, four-time NCAA qualifier and a three-time All-American for the Hokies from 2014-18. As a senior, Haught became only the second Tech wrestler and the first West Virginia native to make it to a national final when he reached the championship match at 197 pounds at the 2018 NCAA Championships in Cleveland. He placed sixth at NCAAs in 2016, fourth in 2017 and second in 2018.
The Parkersburg, W.Va., native earned his degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech in 2018. He and his wife, Morgan, along with their two children, Samson and Ruby, reside in Christiansburg.
Haught was a two-time ACC champion, four-time NCAA qualifier and a three-time All-American for the Hokies from 2014-18. As a senior, Haught became only the second Tech wrestler and the first West Virginia native to make it to a national final when he reached the championship match at 197 pounds at the 2018 NCAA Championships in Cleveland. He placed sixth at NCAAs in 2016, fourth in 2017 and second in 2018.
The Parkersburg, W.Va., native earned his degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech in 2018. He and his wife, Morgan, along with their two children, Samson and Ruby, reside in Christiansburg.