Kevin Dresser Head Coach
Wrestling

Kevin Dresser enters his fourth season at the helm of the Virginia Tech wrestling program, a program that he has headed toward the upper echelon of the college game.

In two of his first three seasons, he’s had a wrestler win an ACC title and named Most Outstanding Wrestler at the ACC Championsips. In 2007, it was Jon Bonilla-Bowman who won the ACC title at 157 pounds and, last year, Matt Epperly came out of nowhere to win the 165-pound class and advance to the NCAA Championships. 

Last season, his team broke all sorts of school records, including dual meet wins (20) and NCAA qualifiers (8). Tech also had upset road wins against No. 17 Michigan and No. 6 Central Michigan.

His recruiting has taken off, and the Hokies have had three-consecutive top-10 national recruiting classes under his direction, including the fifth-best class in the country last year according to W.I.N. Magazine.

Dresser is a familiar name in the New River Valley as he was the head coach at Christiansburg High School for 10 seasons, winning the Group AA state title five times and claiming second place three times. Prior to his stint in Christiansburg, he led Grundy High School to eight titles in as many years.

A native of Humboldt, Iowa, Dresser was a two-time high school state champion at Humboldt High School. He graduated from the University of Iowa, where he won a national title in 1986 at 142 pounds.

Dresser was a two-time All-American (placing fourth in 1985 at 142 pounds), as well as a two-time Big Ten champion. For his performance in 1986, he received the Mike Howard Award, given to the most valuable wrestler for the Hawkeyes.

Dresser earned his B.S. in general studies from Iowa in 1986. He and his wife, Penny, have three children: Emma (11), Anna (9) and Jack (7). Penny Dresser is a native of Blacksburg, and the family resides in Riner.