The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) has announced winners of the 2025 high school coaches of the year for the country. Leading the way was Troy Tirapelle.
Tirapelle, leader of the Buchanan High School wrestling program in California, has been named the National Boys Head Coach of the Year. In his 14th season with the school, Tirapelle helped Buchanan place first at state with 14 qualifiers including nine medalists and one individual champion.
Overall, Buchahan has won eight of the last nine California Interscholastic Federation state championships, setting a new state meet scoring record this past year. They have also captured nine consecutive conference and section titles.
"Troy Tirapelle has built a model program of consistency, culture and championship-level performance," Mike Moyer, executive director of the NWCA said. "He embodies what it means to be a transformational coach."
Seven other section winners were announced including John Richard of Holland Patent in New York, Mike Laidley from Archbishop in Maryland, Johnnie Melzoni of Nolensville in Tennessee, Chris Ortner from Don Bosco in Iowa, Kurt Becker and Bill McDonald of Watertown-Mayer in Minnesota, Chad Randle of Chickasha in Oklahoma and Jody Coleman of Orting in Washington.
The national assistant coach of the year was the staff at Jefferson High School in Georgia. Coleman Cunningham, Matthew Seaman and Allen Stone helped the school place first at state with five individual champions among the 14 qualifiers.
Jefferson swept both state duals and traditional meet championships while also fielding a girls team that placed second overall with three runner-up medalists.
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