University Times

Longtime Pitt wrestling coach Rande Stottlemyer, remembered as the winningest coach in program history, died Jan. 28, 2018, at age 62.

Stottlemyer began his Pitt wrestling career as a student on the University team, becoming a three-time All-American in the sport, 1974-78. Upon his 1978 graduation, Stottlemyer was hired as Pitt wrestling’s assistant coach, then promoted to head coach the next year.

“Rande was Pitt wrestling,” recalled current Pitt head wrestling coach Keith Gavin, who competed under Stottlemyer, 2004-08. “Everybody in the Pitt athletics department loved him. He just had a way about him — you didn’t want to let him down. He embodied that blue-collar attitude of, ‘If you just work hard, and control what you can control …’ There were constant reminders of what you needed to focus on. He had a wisdom from his experience of doing this for so long.”

Pitt wrestlers under Stottlemyer won 56 Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) individual championships, 33 All-American spots and three national championships. Stottlemyer was named EWL Coach of the Year five times.

Pitt placed 15th in the nation in each of his final two seasons as head coach (2012 and 2013). His final four years, 2010-2013, included three EWL regular-season championships (2010-2012) and three EWL Tournament titles (2011-2013). He retired in 2013 with a 304-231-12 record.

He is survived by his wife, Regina; children Tara, Rebecca, Jaclyn and Kelsey; and siblings Keith, Ken, Rex and Jan.