Using Past Experiences, Kocher Thrives in Coaching Role
11/23/2010 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 23, 2010
Three years ago, Matt Kocher could have been found in the Pitt wrestling room, trying to perfect his craft and give himself, as well as his team, the best chance to win. Now an assistant coach with the Panthers, not much has changed.
Kocher, a former Pitt All-American who is in his second year as an assistant coach on the Pitt wrestling staff, has been an integral part of the Panthers' overall success over the last two seasons. Only three years removed from his standout career at Pitt, he's still very connected with the sport and has the ability to teach with a hands-on approach that many coaches can't physically endure.
"I think with getting out of competing and getting into coaching, there were a few things that I remembered as an athlete and took mental notes of," Kocher said. "I'd notice something and say, `This is what I want to carry over into coaching.' To an extent, I can still put myself into that mindset of what it's like to compete."
While a wrestler at Pitt, Kocher had a number of teammates who are still on the team today. During his senior season, Tyler Nauman, Ethan Headlee, Ryan Tomei, Christian Fagan, Phil Sorrentino, Kyle Patton, Andy Vaughan and Adam Counterman were in the beginning stages of their Pitt careers. Kocher had a chance to learn their tendencies and get to know them as teammates, and now as a coach, that has many positive effects.
"Obviously, all of our coaches know our guys' tendencies, but I think I know them even more so because I wrestled with them," Kocher said. "I can really see what they're thinking and what they need to do to win."
Winning is exactly what they've done. Headlee, who redshirted last year, is a two-time NCAA qualifier, while Nauman was a EWL champion and All-America selection a season ago. Tomei, a redshirt senior, won the EWL title at heavyweight last season en route to being named the tournament's most outstanding wrestler. And this past weekend, Pitt knocked off two teams ranked among the nation's top-15 in Nebraska (No. 14) and Ohio State (No. 12).
Much has changed since his time as their teammate, but Kocher's transition to the other side of things has been smooth. Aside from the physical aspect he helps the team with, Kocher can also help the team psychologically prepare for their matches because of his previous and recent experiences.
"Wrestling is a combative sport and it's physically demanding," he said. "It takes a little bit of a different mindset."
The tough, never-give-in mindset that wrestlers need to succeed forced Kocher to push himself to be the best wrestler he could possibly be. Kocher ended up qualifying for nationals four times, was named an All-American his senior season and currently holds the second most wins in Pitt wrestling history, trailing only Panther legend and two-time national champion Pat Santoro. After graduating from Pitt, he worked at Lion Heart Professional Management and Promotions, where he trained mixed-martial artists. He also took part in two bouts as an amateur and professional fighter.
And in addition to that, he has another advantage working his way, as he was the college roommate of Keith Gavin, who won the national championship during their senior year. So when Kocher points something out to one of the wrestlers, they know he has a point.
"I think what Gavin's story tells us is how much pride our team has," Kocher said. "You take a guy who wasn't near the No. 1 guy in the country when he came in, and climbed his way up and was able to do what he did. It shows how much this team can accomplish."
"I think we have a group of guys that can really do well at a national level," he added. "If the coaches expect that from the guys and the wrestlers expect that of themselves, then they're going to get there."