Campbell University Men's Wrestling

A former three-time All-American, TJ Dudley was elevated to head wrestling coach at Campbell University in July 2025. “TJ Dudley embodies all the qualities that I was looking for as we set out to hire the next head coach of Campbell’s storied wrestling program,” affirmed Campbell President Dr. William Downs. “He is a proven winner. He is a fierce competitor driven by the desire to exceed—not just match—previous heights of excellence. He knows and appreciates our mission at Campbell, where the job is to turn student-athletes into champions on and off the mat. Perhaps most importantly, TJ commands a room with his authenticity…no drama, just a will to succeed. There’s a ton of fight in this Camel…I’m eager to see his impact!” “I am excited to welcome TJ Dudley as our next head wrestling coach,” said Director of Athletics Hannah Bazemore. “Through this process, Coach Dudley separated himself through his dedication to our student-athletes and Campbell University. As one of the greatest wrestlers in the history of the region, Coach Dudley also knows this area as well as anyone, and will continue to recruit and develop championship caliber student-athletes at Campbell. He knows Campbell, is a connector, and is a great fit to lead our program.” “I’m extremely excited and beyond grateful to step into this opportunity as head coach at Campbell University,” said Dudley. “This journey has taken a lot of hard work, faith, and perseverance, and I couldn’t have gotten here without my Lord and Savior, my family and friends, and support from incredible people I’ve met in my time here at Campbell. A special thank you to the President of Campbell University, Dr. Downs, and Athletic Director Hannah Bazemore for believing in me to take on this role and giving me this incredible opportunity.” Dudley joined the Camels in the summer of 2024, helping the program to a share of the 2024-25 Southern Conference regular season championship, while the team was tabbed No. 17 in the 2025 NCAA DI Scholar All-America rankings, as announced by the NWCA, with an outstanding 3.491 GPA. It was the eighth time in nine years the Camels have finished in the top-30 of the NWCA Team Scholar All-America rankings. “This is a special place that develops and nurtures special people and I’m overjoyed to be chosen to lead Campbell Wrestling into its next era,” added Dudley. “We will continue to bring in and develop talented bright young men that share our beliefs as a university and who can compete at the highest level, adding to the success of this great program.” In addition to the program’s team success last season, Dudley coached All-SoCon selection Levi Hopkins to a conference title at 197 pounds. Following the season, Hopkins was named one of two Campbell NWCA Scholar All-Americans. Dudley also guided All-American heavyweight Taye Ghadiali to a win at the 2024 NWCA All-Star Classic, defeating Ohio State’s Nick Feldman, ranked No. 3 nationally, in an 8-3 decision. Prior to Campbell, Dudley spent three seasons at Brown University, where he helped the Bears gain their first NCAA qualifier in five seasons. Dudley wrestled collegiately at Nebraska where he was a three-time All-American at 184 pounds, including a runner-up finish in 2016. The Irmo, S.C. native also took eighth as a sophomore and third as a senior at the NCAA Championships to cap his historic career. A four-time NCAA qualifier and three-time Big Ten placer was named the Nebraska Male Athlete of the Year in 2016, and the Cornhuskers’ most outstanding wrestler in 2015-16 and 2016-17. He graduated from Nebraska in spring of 2017 with a bachelor's degree in psychology. At the prep level, Dudley finished his career as the most decorated wrestler in South Carolina history, claiming three state championships, as well as a Senior NHSCA National Championships title (195). Winning nearly 200 matches during his storied high school career at Irmo High School, Dudley went 63-0 with 50 pins as a senior to become the 4A Senior Wrestler of the Year, earning a No. 2 national ranking at 195 pounds, and No. 17 overall (InterMat). Additionally, Dudley placed in the U.S. Open five times on the senior level, finishing as high as third in the event. What they’re saying about Campbell head coach TJ Dudley “Coach Dudley is an outstanding pick, well-respected by both coaches and the existing wrestling team. He is talented, motivated, and has outstanding charisma. With the support of Campbell University administration and alumni, Coach Dudley is capable of leading Campbell University wrestling above and beyond where it has ever been.” - Jerry Hartman ’82, former Campbell head coach, Campbell Athletics Hall of Fame ‘23 “TJ Dudley is a great hire due to his pursuit of having been a tremendous assistant at numerous universities, as well as his work ethic and positive connection to the student- athletes he’s been blessed to work with. Campbell University got a winner in TJ, as he will bring energy and the mentality to win at the highest level.” – Mark Manning, Nebraska head coach “TJ was a tremendous asset to our program. He brought great energy every day, ran the room with professionalism, and connected well with our athletes. I’m excited to see him take this next step as a head coach—he’s going to do a great job leading and inspiring his team.” – Scotti Sentes, former Campbell head coach, current WIBN executive director “This is an exciting moment for Campbell Wrestling. Coach Dudley is a proven leader who knows how to compete and win at the highest level. His vision and energy will inspire our wrestlers and rally the wrestling community around our program.” – Noah Geoghegan, Campbell ’03, Wrestling letterman “TJ is a great guy with experience competing and training at the highest level. He is a three-time All-American and NCAA finalist. His commitment to excellence will definitely rub off on the athletes he’s working with. He’s very personable which will allow him to be an effective recruiter as well.” – Darrius Little, 2012 All-American (NC State), former World Team Trials Qualifier and US Open placer  

Kolat led Campbell to a pair of Southern Conference Champions, Nathan Kraisser and Ville Heino. Both competitors earned bids to the NCAA Tournament at Madison Square Garden.  Former national champion and Olympic team member Cary Kolat was named head wrestling coach at Campbell University before the 2014-15 wrestlign season.  Kolat joins the Fighting Camel staff after serving since 2010 as associate head coach at the University of North Carolina. This is a milestone announcement for the Campbell wrestling program, said Director of Athletics Bob Roller.  Nationally and internationally, Cary Kolat is synonymous with wrestling for the past three decades, and I am confident he will build a program for CU that will be known throughout NCAA Division I.  We welcome Cary, Erin and their family to Campbell. During Kolats tenure at Chapel Hill, he was involved in all phases of the UNC program and helped improve the teams national ranking from 57 to 22.  In addition, he was head coach at the Olympic regional training center in Chapel Hill where he trained Olympic level athletes. Kolat has also served on wrestling staffs at Lehigh, Wisconsin, West Virginia and his alma mater, Lock Haven.  Im extremely excited that Bob Roller and Campbell University have given me the opportunity to lead this program, said Kolat, a native of southwestern Pennsylvania.  But the success of this program is not going to happen overnight.  It will be determined by our guys doing the small things right over and over every day, consistently wanting to improve and taking the program to the next level. A two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion, Kolat was a four-time All-American who went on to compete in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.  A three-time World Cup gold medalist, he also won World silver and bronze medals. His career also includes three U.S. Open championship medals and a pair of Pan-Am Games first-place finishes.  Kolat was a member of the U.S. National Team from 1991-2002.  In the summer of 2011, Kolat returned to competitive wrestling, was a finalist at the U.S. Open and competed in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. Success at the Division I level starts with the university administration, said Kolat.  Throughout my visit here, Bob Roller and the administration convinced me that they are committed to having a successful wrestling program and thats why I accepted this opportunity. He inherits a team that finished as runner-up in the Southern Conference in 2012 and finished third in 2013.  Campbell wrestlers have advanced to the NCAA Championship in each of the last three seasons.  Joe Boardwine resigned as head coach earlier this month in order to pursue other professional opportunities. Im committed to making sure we get the right student-athletes at Campbell, said Kolat.  We will bring in young men who can handle the academics and get their degree, and secondly, that can compete.  If we get the right combination of athletes, hopefully, in a couple of years, wrestling alums at Campbell will be proud of their program and where it is headed. While at Jefferson-Morgan High in Green County, Pa., Kolat won four-straight state titles and compiled a perfect 137-0 record.  He was named Outstanding Wrestler at the state meet each year, an honor no one else had won even twice. Following his prep career, Kolat was featured in the April 6, 1992 edition of Sports Illustrated. Kolat began his collegiate career at Penn State, where he advanced to the NCAA final as a freshman.  After his sophomore year, he was named All-American for the second-straight season as well as Big Ten Conference wrestler of the year.  In two seasons at Penn State, Kolat compiled a 61-6 record, including a 39-1 mark as a sophomore. He transferred to Lock Haven, where he won his first NCAA Division I national championship in 1996 with a 25-1 record.  He finished 25-0 as senior when he won the 142-pound national title.  He completed his college wrestling career with a 111-7 overall record and 53 pins. Kolat earned his Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Lock Haven in 2003.  He and his wife, Erin, are parents of two daughters Zoe and Gracie, and a son Ryder. Cary Kolat enters his third season at the helm of Campbell Wrestling for the 2016-17 season. During the 2014-15 season, Kolat led Campbell to a pair of Southern Conference Champions, Nathan Kraisser and Ville Heino. Both competitors earned bids to the NCAA Tournament at Madison Square Garden.  Former national champion and Olympic team member Cary Kolat was named head wrestling coach at Campbell University before the 2014-15 wrestlign season.  Kolat joins the Fighting Camel staff after serving since 2010 as associate head coach at the University of North Carolina. This is a milestone announcement for the Campbell wrestling program, said Director of Athletics Bob Roller.  Nationally and internationally, Cary Kolat is synonymous with wrestling for the past three decades, and I am confident he will build a program for CU that will be known throughout NCAA Division I.  We welcome Cary, Erin and their family to Campbell. During Kolats tenure at Chapel Hill, he was involved in all phases of the UNC program and helped improve the teams national ranking from 57 to 22.  In addition, he was head coach at the Olympic regional training center in Chapel Hill where he trained Olympic level athletes. Kolat has also served on wrestling staffs at Lehigh, Wisconsin, West Virginia and his alma mater, Lock Haven.  Im extremely excited that Bob Roller and Campbell University have given me the opportunity to lead this program, said Kolat, a native of southwestern Pennsylvania.  But the success of this program is not going to happen overnight.  It will be determined by our guys doing the small things right over and over every day, consistently wanting to improve and taking the program to the next level. A two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion, Kolat was a four-time All-American who went on to compete in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.  A three-time World Cup gold medalist, he also won World silver and bronze medals. His career also includes three U.S. Open championship medals and a pair of Pan-Am Games first-place finishes.  Kolat was a member of the U.S. National Team from 1991-2002.  In the summer of 2011, Kolat returned to competitive wrestling, was a finalist at the U.S. Open and competed in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. Success at the Division I level starts with the university administration, said Kolat.  Throughout my visit here, Bob Roller and the administration convinced me that they are committed to having a successful wrestling program and thats why I accepted this opportunity. He inherits a team that finished as runner-up in the Southern Conference in 2012 and finished third in 2013.  Campbell wrestlers have advanced to the NCAA Championship in each of the last three seasons.  Joe Boardwine resigned as head coach earlier this month in order to pursue other professional opportunities. Im committed to making sure we get the right student-athletes at Campbell, said Kolat.  We will bring in young men who can handle the academics and get their degree, and secondly, that can compete.  If we get the right combination of athletes, hopefully, in a couple of years, wrestling alums at Campbell will be proud of their program and where it is headed. While at Jefferson-Morgan High in Green County, Pa., Kolat won four-straight state titles and compiled a perfect 137-0 record.  He was named Outstanding Wrestler at the state meet each year, an honor no one else had won even twice. Following his prep career, Kolat was featured in the April 6, 1992 edition of Sports Illustrated. Kolat began his collegiate career at Penn State, where he advanced to the NCAA final as a freshman.  After his sophomore year, he was named All-American for the second-straight season as well as Big Ten Conference wrestler of the year.  In two seasons at Penn State, Kolat compiled a 61-6 record, including a 39-1 mark as a sophomore. He transferred to Lock Haven, where he won his first NCAA Division I national championship in 1996 with a 25-1 record.  He finished 25-0 as senior when he won the 142-pound national title.  He completed his college wrestling career with a 111-7 overall record and 53 pins. Kolat earned his Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Lock Haven in 2003.  He and his wife, Erin, are parents of two daughters Zoe and Gracie, and a son Ryder. Cary Kolat enters his third season at the helm of Campbell Wrestling for the 2016-17 season. During the 2014-15 season, Kolat led Campbell to a pair of Southern Conference Champions, Nathan Kraisser and Ville Heino. Both competitors earned bids to the NCAA Tournament at Madison Square Garden.  Former national champion and Olympic team member Cary Kolat was named head wrestling coach at Campbell University before the 2014-15 wrestlign season.  Kolat joins the Fighting Camel staff after serving since 2010 as associate head coach at the University of North Carolina. This is a milestone announcement for the Campbell wrestling program, said Director of Athletics Bob Roller.  Nationally and internationally, Cary Kolat is synonymous with wrestling for the past three decades, and I am confident he will build a program for CU that will be known throughout NCAA Division I.  We welcome Cary, Erin and their family to Campbell. During Kolats tenure at Chapel Hill, he was involved in all phases of the UNC program and helped improve the teams national ranking from 57 to 22.  In addition, he was head coach at the Olympic regional training center in Chapel Hill where he trained Olympic level athletes. Kolat has also served on wrestling staffs at Lehigh, Wisconsin, West Virginia and his alma mater, Lock Haven.  Im extremely excited that Bob Roller and Campbell University have given me the opportunity to lead this program, said Kolat, a native of southwestern Pennsylvania.  But the success of this program is not going to happen overnight.  It will be determined by our guys doing the small things right over and over every day, consistently wanting to improve and taking the program to the next level. A two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion, Kolat was a four-time All-American who went on to compete in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.  A three-time World Cup gold medalist, he also won World silver and bronze medals. His career also includes three U.S. Open championship medals and a pair of Pan-Am Games first-place finishes.  Kolat was a member of the U.S. National Team from 1991-2002.  In the summer of 2011, Kolat returned to competitive wrestling, was a finalist at the U.S. Open and competed in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. Success at the Division I level starts with the university administration, said Kolat.  Throughout my visit here, Bob Roller and the administration convinced me that they are committed to having a successful wrestling program and thats why I accepted this opportunity. He inherits a team that finished as runner-up in the Southern Conference in 2012 and finished third in 2013.  Campbell wrestlers have advanced to the NCAA Championship in each of the last three seasons.  Joe Boardwine resigned as head coach earlier this month in order to pursue other professional opportunities. Im committed to making sure we get the right student-athletes at Campbell, said Kolat.  We will bring in young men who can handle the academics and get their degree, and secondly, that can compete.  If we get the right combination of athletes, hopefully, in a couple of years, wrestling alums at Campbell will be proud of their program and where it is headed. While at Jefferson-Morgan High in Green County, Pa., Kolat won four-straight state titles and compiled a perfect 137-0 record.  He was named Outstanding Wrestler at the state meet each year, an honor no one else had won even twice. Following his prep career, Kolat was featured in the April 6, 1992 edition of Sports Illustrated. Kolat began his collegiate career at Penn State, where he advanced to the NCAA final as a freshman.  After his sophomore year, he was named All-American for the second-straight season as well as Big Ten Conference wrestler of the year.  In two seasons at Penn State, Kolat compiled a 61-6 record, including a 39-1 mark as a sophomore. He transferred to Lock Haven, where he won his first NCAA Division I national championship in 1996 with a 25-1 record.  He finished 25-0 as senior when he won the 142-pound national title.  He completed his college wrestling career with a 111-7 overall record and 53 pins. Kolat earned his Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Lock Haven in 2003.  He and his wife, Erin, are parents of two daughters Zoe and Gracie, and a son Ryder.

Chinn enters his second season as an assistant wrestling coach at Campbell University.  Prior to being hired with the Fighting Camels, Chinn worked for five seasons as an assistant at the University of North Carolina where he helped coach 19 NCAA qualifiers, three ACC champions, and two NCAA All-Americans. Four of his five years at UNC were spent with Campbell's coach Kolat. A 2009 graduate of Lehigh with a Bachelor of Arts degree in physics, Chinn posted a 91-30 record over four seasons at 149 pounds. He was an EIWA finalist and three-time NCAA Qualifier. Prior to enrolling at Lehigh, Chinn was a two-time New York state champion and a four-time state finalist at Canandaigua Academy.

Gutierrez joins Campbell after one season as an assistant coach at Army West Point, where he also competed as a Regional Training Center athlete for the West Point Wrestling Club. A Commerce City, Colo., native, Gutierrez was a three-time NCAA Division I qualifier and 2022 Southern Conference champion at 125 pounds for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He finished his collegiate career with a 74-34 record, including a 21-8 mark as a senior. Gutierrez graduated in 2022 from Chattanooga with a bachelor's degree in sport management. "Fabian brings great energy and a fresh, unique feel to Campbell," Dudley said. "Having wrestled in our conference, he's a familiar face to fans and understands the level of intensity required to win in the SoCon. His perspective and drive will make an immediate impact on our athletes." Before his collegiate career, Gutierrez wrestled at Adams City High School in Commerce City, where he was the 2016 Colorado state champion at 113 pounds. On the international circuit, Gutierrez placed third at 55 kg at the Bill Farrell International (Greco-Roman) and fifth at 55 kg at the U.S. Open.

Jake Patacsil officially joined the Campbell Wrestling staff as an assistant coach in September 2024. “The Patacsil name is huge in the state of Florida and his family, including his dad and brother, has done a lot of good for wrestling in Florida,” head coach Scotti Sentes said. “Despite not meeting Jake until after he applied, I have known about im and followed his successful wrestling and coaching career for a very long time.” Sentes continued, “When Jake applied for the position, I was excited at first because I know he is one of the best top wrestlers of all time, but as I have gotten to know Jake better, I am more excited about the passion that he brings into the wrestling room and the mindset that I anticipate he will instill in the athletes.” Patacsil spent last season volunteering at Manchester University and St. Thomas Aquinas. Previously, he was at St. Thomas University, an NAIA program in Florida. Patacsil was the first head wrestling coach in school history, as the Bobcats began the program in 2020. “The Campbell wrestling program, with its tradition of success in the Southern Conference and at the national tournament, is a team I greatly admired,” said Patacsil. “When Coach Sentes and I discussed the opportunity for me to contribute to the program, I was filled with excitement. I am committed to doing my part to ensure the team’s continued success, as I believe this is a special team I can contribute to and be a part of.” In the 2022-23 season, Patacsil guided David Pierson to NAIA All-America status in just the program’s third year of existence. Pierson defeated the No. 3 ranked wrestler to secure a Top 8 finish at 141 pounds. Patacsil improved the Bobcats drastically between year one and year two, jumping from a 1-9 record to 7-5 and qualifying one wrestler for the NAIA National Tournament. Prior to his time at St. Thomas, Patacsil was named the inaugural head coach at Mount Olive (N.C.) in October 2018. In his lone season with the Trojans, Patacsil had two wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Division II National Championship that was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Patacsil served as an assistant coach at Hofstra University for four seasons. During his time at Hofstra, Patacsil helped coach two two-time NCAA National Qualifiers and one All-American. His responsibilities at Hofstra included recruiting, working with the team on top and bottom positions, and running practices. He helped the wrestling team win the Pride Cup (given to the most social/academically/athletically successful team) three years in a row. Before Hofstra, Patacsil was an assistant at Duke University from 2013-14 where he assisted in recruiting top-level talent, assisted in planning and running practices, and worked heavily with the Blue Devils NCAA All-American Connor Hartman. Patacsil also served as an assistant coach at Notre Dame College from 2011-13. At Notre Dame, he headed up the recruiting efforts that brought in two top recruiting classes for a program which had a third-place team finish in Division II and seven Division II All-Americans during his tenure. Prior to his stint at Notre Dame, Patacsil was an assistant coach for the Dutch of Central College from 2010-11 and helped Central get their first national qualifier in seven years. Patacsil graduated with a B.S. in Math Education from Purdue University, where he was a four-year member of the Boilermakers wrestling team and an NCAA All-American at 149 pounds. In the Purdue record books, he ranks third all-time in career wins (120), second in reversals (51), and is the all-time leader in back points (803). Patacsil was the first Purdue wrestler to earn the Big Ten Medal of Honor, given to a male or female athlete at each conference institution for excellence in athletics and in the classroom. He was a third-generation member of the Patacsil family to wrestle for Purdue, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Joe, who was a 1950 national champion, his father, Frank, and uncle, Ted.