In 2019, UConn’s club wrestling team under head coach Chris Warran, far left (standing), finished second in Division II at the National Collegiate Wrestling Association’s national championships. (Photo courtesy Sam Janicki /SJanickiPhoto.com)
UConn’s club wrestling team is looking for a new head coach. Due to increased responsibility at his full-time job, Chris Warran recently resigned after six years of leading the Huskies.
In the last six seasons, the Huskies competed at the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NWCA) national championships four times, finishing in the top 20 overall each time. In 2019, the Huskies were second among the NWCA’s Division II teams, third in 2018 and fourth in 2020.
In the past six seasons, UConn’s club has produced nine NWCA All-American wrestlers with eight graduating from state high schools. Most members of the UConn team graduated from Connecticut high schools.
At the Northeast Regional conference meet, the Huskies have finished second three times (2019, 2020, 2023) behind Springfield Technical Community College, which competes at the NWCA’s Division I level.
“I am incredibly proud of the team that I’ve coached since becoming the official head coach in 2018,” said Warran, who was named the NWCA Coach of the Year in 2020.
At last spring’s NWCA national championships in Puerto Rico, UConn finished 15th overall in the field and fifth among Division II programs with one All-American wrestler. Greenwich’s Andrew Nanai finished seventh at 197 pounds for the Huskies.
Anyone interested in the position should email [email protected] or Warran at [email protected].
The UConn club team has been in existence since 2007. UConn dropped their varsity wrestling program following the 1981 season.
The NCWA was founded in 1997 to provide collegiate athletes with an opportunity to compete in wrestling at a regional and national level. The NCWA helps develop programs under the school’s athletic departments, student services department and sport club departments.
Warran is still involved in wrestling. “I transitioned to focusing on helping the coaching staff at Silverbacks (wrestling club in Windham) to rebuild our club. We’ve been growing steadily in the last year since reopening and it’s been a pleasure seeing it rejuvenated again,” Warran said.
