Kevin Gavin is bringing back another Pitt Panther great to his wrestling program.
Gavin and Pitt announced on Friday the hiring of former Panther great Demetrius Thomas as the program’s new Director of Operations. Earlier this off-season, Jake Wentzel was named as a new Pitt volunteer assistant coach.
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Thomas finished his illustrious wrestling career with Pitt in 2020. After transferring to Pitt from William Baptist University, Thomas finished two-year Panther career with a record of 48-8 and won consecutive ACC heavyweight titles, along with qualifying for the NCAA Championships each year.
“I’m very excited for this opportunity,” Thomas said. “I’m looking forward to facilitating operations and handling whatever the team needs to help our student-athletes developed and succeed. We have some super talented guys in this wrestling room. The future is very bright with the group of local freshmen now with the team, and I can’t wait to get started.”
“I’m really glad we were able to add Meech to the staff,” said Coach Gavin. “He’s been a natural leader from the moment he arrived at Pitt. He elevates everyone around him. We hope we can help him achieve his own professional goals as he works to improve our program on a daily basis as well.”
Thomas, who had his name etched on the Cathedral of Learning Varsity Walk as a winner of the Blue-Gold Award, will oversee the team’s day-to-day operations, including meals, travel and planning.
The Pitt wrestling team starts up with their Blue-Gold Dual on Friday, October 28 at Fitzgerald Field House.