It was all in due time — former Cornell assistant wrestling coach Steve Garland, now head coach at his alma mater Virginia, was named the National Wrestling Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year for his work last season transforming Cornell into a perennial wrestling powerhouse.
Under Garland’s tenure on the East Hill, the Red produced two national champions (Travis Lee at 125 and 133 pounds) and 14 All-Americans. Garland was the top assistant last season for a Cornell team that finished fifth at nationals in Oklahoma City, Okla. — its third top-10 finish at nationals in the past four seasons.
Garland himself was an All-American at 125 pounds while wrestling in his senior season for the Cavaliers.
“It is always nice to receive recognition for your hard work ... but perhaps even more so with this award because this award is voted on by my peers,” Garland told intermatwrestle.com. “Many people who I have admired and respected for years have won this award. To win this same award is very humbling.”