ROB ANSPACH

Head Coach

Rob Anspach, a 2001 Hofstra alumnus with a degree in American studies, became the 11^th Head Wrestling Coach in Hofstra history on March 25, 2011 following the resignation of Tom Shifflet, who he served as an assistant under for five seasons including three as associate head coach.

“Rob Anspach has been the link between two very successful Hofstra coaches during the past nine years,” Hayes said, “He brings solid experience as a coach and administrator and has great knowledge of the talent-rich East Coast wrestling community. We are confident that he will continue the Pride’s winning tradition.  In addition, as a Hofstra wrestling alumnus, he will continue to bridge the rich history of our fine program.”

His tenure on the Pride coaching staff, which began in 2001-02, has resulted in a 112-58-6 dual meet record, eight conference championships and 33 league champions.  A total of sixty-three wrestlers have reached the NCAA Championships during his nine years on staff including 13 that earned All-America honors.

“I am truly grateful to Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz and Director of Athletics Jack Hayes for this opportunity and the confidence they have expressed in me to lead the Pride wrestling program.” Anspach said, “I am excited about the challenges that lie ahead and I feel I have the ability to continue leading Hofstra in the right direction.  I would also like to thank both Tom Shifflet and Tom Ryan, both mentors and friends, for helping me get to this day.”

As a student-athlete, Anspach compiled a 69-51 record and made two trips to the NCAA Championships during his five-year career at Hofstra.  As a freshman in 1996-97 he recorded a 20-13 record, placed third in the ECWA Championships, and was named to the ECWA All-Freshman Team at 158 pounds.  A year later, he posted an 18-12 mark, placed third again in the ECWA Championships and captured the New York State Championships title at 167 pounds.

After red-shirting in 1998-99, Anspach recorded his best collegiate season with a 20-15 mark and captured the ECWA title at 174 pounds to earn his first NCAA Championship bid.  He also captured the title at the Congressional Cup in Washington, D.C., and placed second at the New York State Championships.  As a senior in 2000-01 Anspach posted an 11-11 record, finished second at the ECWA Championships and earned a wild-card selection to the NCAA Championships.  That season he also won his weight class at the Bearcat Open, compiling a perfect 4-0 record. 

ZACH TANELLI

Assistant Coach

Three-time NCAA Championship qualifier and 2009 All-American Zach Tanelli is in his third year as an assistant coach on the Hofstra Wrestling coaching staff in 2011-12.

A University of Wisconsin graduate Tanelli placed fourth at the 2009 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in St. Louis, Missouri, in March.  The Short Hills, New Jersey, native recorded a 6-2 record, including five straight victories, in the National Championships to earn his first All-America honor.  Tanelli, who was the top-ranked wrestler at 141 pounds for eight weeks through the conference tournament, placed second in the Big 10 Championships. The 2008 Midlands champion finished the year with a 31-6 record, including a 15-1 mark in duals and a 7-0 record in the Big 10 and ranked second in the country.

Tanelli earned his first NCAA Championship bid in 2007 as a wildcard after placing eighth in the Big Ten Championships.  He recorded a 21-10 overall record including a 19-3 mark in dual matches and a 5-3 record in the Big 10.  Tanelli also led the Badgers in dual points with 80.  As a junior in 2007-08, he earned his second NCAA Championship bid by finishing fifth in the Big 10 Championships.  Tanelli posted a 3-2 record at Nationals to finish the season with a 28-12 record including at 13-5 mark in duals and a 5-3 record in conference action.

A two-time New Jersey State Championship runner-up out of Millburn High School, Tanelli notched a 8-3 record and captured the Pointer Open title as a red-shirt freshman at Wisconsin in 2005-06.  During his four-year career at Wisconsin, Tanelli posted an 88-31 overall record including a 49-10 mark in duals and a 17-6 record in the Big 10.

DAN VALLIMONT

Assistant Coach

Former two-time Penn State All-American Dan Vallimont is in his first season as an assistant coach on the Pride staff in 2011-12. 

Vallimont, a native of Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, was a four-time qualifier for the Nittany Lions of Penn State from 2005 through 2010 who recorded a 110-36 mark during his collegiate career.  A team captain in 2008-09 and 2009-10, Vallimont placed second at the 2010 NCAA Division I Championships at 165 pounds and finishing the season with a 30-9 mark.  As a sophomore, he finished third at the 2008 NCAA Championships at 157 pounds and posted a 32-3 record.

A three-time top three finisher at the Big Ten Championships, Vallimont placed second in 2008 and third in 2009 and 2010.  As a red-shirt freshman in 2006-07, he placed fourth in the Big Ten Championships and tallied a 22-12 record.  Vallimont advanced to the NCAA Championships as the 12^th seed at 157 pounds and came within one win of All-America status, finishing with a 26-12 slate on the season.

GREGOR GILLESPIE

Assistant Coach

Four-time All-American and former NCAA champion Gregor Gillespie is in his first season as an assistant coach on the Pride staff in 2011-12.

Gillespie, a native of Webster, New York, comes to Hofstra after serving as a coach and administrator for the Edinboro Scotsman Wrestling Club during the 2010-11 season.   A 2011 graduate of Edinboro University, Gillespie earned NCAA All-America honors for the 2006 through 2009 and captured the 2007 NCAA championship at 149 pounds with a 3-1 overtime decision over Michigan’s Josh Churella.

The two-time team captain for the Fighting Scots, Gillespie helped lead Edinboro to top 10 team finishes at the NCAA Championships in 2006, 2007 and 2009, and Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) team titles in all four of his seasons.  Individually, he was  three-time champion in both the EWL and the PSAC, and was the EML Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler award winner in 2007.

Gillespie began his college career with a bang, winning his first 23 matches on the way to a 40-4 record, which is the most wins by a freshman in school history.  He won his first EWL and PSAC titles and placed seventh at the NCAA Championships becoming Edinboro’s first true freshman to earn All-America honors.  As a sophomore, Gillespie tallied a 34-2 record, his second EWL title and was named both the EWL and the PSAC Wrestler of the Year on the way to the national title at 149 pounds.

In 2007-08, Gillespie moved up to 157 pounds, posted a 37-4 record and placed fifth at the NCAA Championships.  He won his third straight EWL title and was named the EWL Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler, and recorded his second PSAC crown and was named the PSAC Wrestler of the Year for the second consecutive year.  As a senior in 2008-09, Gillespie recorded a 41-3 record, was an EWL finalist, captured his third PSAC Championship and was named the PSAC Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler, and placed fourth at the NCAA Championships.

Gillespie finished his collegiate career with a 152-13 record, breaking Jason Robison’s Edinboro record for career victories and set a new mark with a .921 winning percentage.  A former Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative, Gillespie has a bachelor’s degree in individualized studies with a concentration in psychology.