The Roanoke College wrestling team announced three coaching moves Friday afternoon.
Assistant coach Blake Rosenbaum was elevated to Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator and two new additions joined the staff. Collin Gerardi is the new assistant coach and director of training and Matt Hand will serve as Head Regional Training Center Coach.
Rosenbaum has been with the program since the start, serving as a volunteer assistant in 2020-2021 and then as head assistant coach from 2021-24. He has coached three Maroon All Americans and was named the Southeast Regional Assistant Coach of the Year this winter.
“Blake has been here since the beginning and helped shape our culture and program,” said head coach Nate Yetzer. “I can’t think of a more deserving person being elevated to this position. From his days as an athlete to his time as a coach at Ferrum College and now here at Roanoke, I am so proud to call Blake a friend and colleague. He has proven himself as one of the top recruiters in the country the last few years and has continued to be someone that I lean on heavily. I’m very happy for Blake.”
Gerardi, a former wrestler at Virginia Tech, is a two-time Division 1 National Qualifier. Gerardi was a U23 USA Wrestling Freestyle All American and a two-time VHSL State Champion. Also, a NHSCA Senior National Champion, he is a former assistant at Machine Shed Wrestling Club.
“I have known Collin for a number of years and one thing that has always stood out to me is his positive attitude and work ethic,” said Yetzer. “These two things really stood out during the interview process. When we look at bringing people into our program, we always look what kind of person are they. You won’t find many as genuine as Collin. His experience, knowledge, and passion for the sport of wrestling will help him mold our young men and I’m excited to work with him.”
Hand of Christiansburg is a former wrestler at the University of Iowa and was part of the 1996-2000 National Championship Teams. He was also an Iowa State Champion. Hand served as the head coach at VA Elite from 2017-2022 and at Machine Shed from 2022-24. He guided his squads to VAWA Team Titles in 2021,2023 & 2024 and coached several VAWA and VHSL Champs.
“I am so fired up to add coach Matt Hand onto the staff to head up our Regional Training Center,” said Yetzer. “The club deserves someone that will invest themselves fully and Matt is that guy. I was bummed we did not get him last year, but finally glad to have him guide our RTC program. The RTC has been growing the last few years and is ready to take off to the next level. Matt will be the guy to do it.”
