The interim leader of the Presbyterian College women's wrestling program's greatest season last winter, Brian Vutianitis, has been elevated to the permanent head coaching position for the Blue Hose. Announced on April 24, 2023, Vutianitis becomes the third head coach of women's wrestling in school history after guiding Presbyterian to a ninth-place national finish in 2023.
"After conducting a nationwide search, we are confident that coach Vutianitis is the right person to continue leading our nationally-ranked women's wrestling program", commented Acunto. "Brian demonstrated his ability to attract top talent while serving in the interim coaching role, and his administrative skills were worthy of being strongly considered to become the permanent head coach. Throughout the interview process, his passion for PC and his desire to continue developing our Division I women's wrestling program made him standout".
"With the John McIntosh Athletic Center – the MAC – becoming the new home for PC women's wrestling in the fall, it is also fitting that Brian will continue to build our women's wrestling program into a national powerhouse".
"I am beyond excited for the opportunity to continue my coaching career here at Presbyterian, an institution that I've grown extremely fond of over the past two years", reflected Vutianitis on the promotion. "I could not be more grateful to extend upon the path that has already been paved in the short history of our program, and I cannot wait to carry on the championship-level expectations that Blue Hose women's wrestling has already established".
Vutianitis added "I'd like to thank our men's wrestling head coach, Mark Cody, for taking a chance on me and giving me the platform to enhance Presbyterian's culture of success. I would also like to say thank you to Mr. Acunto, and every individual on the hiring committee for upholding the effort the ensure this program welcomed the most suitable candidate for the position".
Taking control of the program mid-season after arriving in Clinton as a volunteer assistant, Presbyterian soared to some of its best performances with Vutianitis running the show, including the aforementioned NCWWC nationwide tournament of which six Blue Hose wrestlers qualified. PC collected 191 individual wins from November to March, placing three nationally-ranked grapplers by the season's conclusion.
Vutianitis helped the Blue Hose assemble an 8-3 record when in dual competition, although his squad shined brightest under the bracket system with 30 finishes inside the top three from five different wrestlers. Three competitors passed the 30-win threshold on the campaign, granting Presbyterian a final national ranking that was six spots higher than the previous year.
PC proved equally-efficient away from the mats and in the classroom, sporting a 2022 Fall Term team GPA of 3.38. Sophomore Sierra Marie Miller and freshman Paige Wehrmeister were included among the exclusive list of Scholar All-Americans via the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), making the cut of 134 individuals countrywide.
Coming to Clinton after a one-year stint as an assistant coach at Coker University in Hartsville, SC., Vutianitis assisted in the development of eight Scholar All-Americans under the Cobras' umbrella, ranking fifth on the NWCA top 20 academic poll. He would receive a Masters of Science degree from Coker in 2021, later garnering an additional Masters of Arts from Liberty University.
During the two seasons prior to Coker University, Vutianitis was the Head Coach at the State University of New York at Ulster CC. Vutianitis coached the team to two runner-up finishes in the Region XV Invitational. Vutianitis went on to coach eight of his wrestlers to Top 4 finishes at the District tournament, sending two of those wrestlers to the District finals and qualifying seven of them for the NJCAA national tournament. Vutianitis also became the first wrestling coach in SUNY Ulster history to have a wrestler win multiple matches at the NJCAA tournament. During his two seasons with the Senators, the team consisted of seven Academic All-Conference athletes with two of those athletes earning Academic All-Region Honors.
In 2018-19, Vutianitis entered his first year as the Head Wrestling Coach for the Senators. Coach Vutianitis spent the two seasons prior as a varsity Assistant Coach at Warwick Valley High School where he assisted in coaching 13 sectional place winners and one NYS Champion. Vutianitis took over Ulster Wrestling as they entered their third season back on the mat after a 37 year hiatus when the program was cut in 1979.
In addition to his coaching duties, Vutianitis is also the club President and founder of Vision Wrestling Club. Vision is a wrestling club that is home to many top level wrestlers throughout the Section IX area of New York. Vision Wrestling Club’s mission is to expand upon the wrestling community of the Hudson Valley area by working with both small school and large school athletes as a whole. In his four-year stint with Vision Wrestling club, he coached three NYS Finalists and two NYS Champions, 14 Wrestlers to All- State honors and 18 Section IX Champions. The Vision Wrestling Barn is currently the local training facility for wrestlers who attend multiple collegiate wrestling programs including The Ohio State University and University of Michigan (NCAA DI), Queens University of Charlotte (NCAA DII), Coker University, Ithaca College and Johnson & Wales University (NCAA DIII) and more.
Coach Vutianitis started his wrestling career in New York at Warwick Valley High School, where he was a team and individual Section IX champion and state qualifier in 2011. After high school, Brian continued his wrestling career at NCAA DIII SUNY Cortland. During his time at SUNY Cortland, Brian was a part of a team that won the Empire Conference title in 2012 before winning two Northeast Regional titles in 2013 and 2014. During the 2014 Season Brian was All-Conference in the Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference Championships along with being part of a team that finished fourth at the NWCA National Duals. During his final season at SUNY Cortland, Brian was named Team Captain and helped the Red Dragons to a sixth-place finish at the NWCA National Duals.
Brian is a 2016 graduate of SUNY Cortland with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology.
Brian is also a 2021 Graduate of Coker University with a Master's of Science in College Athletic Administration
Brian is coming to Presbyterian along with his Fiance Amy Westberg who is the Coordinator of Strategic Enrollment Initiatives at Presbyterian College.
