A former Big Ten Champion at 184 pounds and an Illinois native, Nate Patrick brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to Dave Grant[apos]s coaching staff in 2009-10. Patrick joins the Huskie coaching staff as a volunteer assistant after spending last year at Iowa State in the same capacity.
Patrick entered the coaching profession after a successful career as a collegiate and competitive wrestler. A three-year letterwinner at Illinois, Patrick posted a 96-22 record for the Illini for a winning percentage of .814, placing him ninth on Illinois[apos] career winning percentage list. His 96 wins ranks him 20th on Illinois[apos] career wins list while his 35 victories in 1999-2000 ties him for 15th on the Illini[apos]s single season wins list. His 33 victories the following year is tied for 20th.
A three-time NCAA qualifier, he earned the Big Ten title at 184 in 2001. His single season record for pins is nine, set in 1999-2000 and in 2000-01, and lists seventh on Illinois[apos] single season pins list, while his 21 career pins ranks fifth.
Following his stellar career at Illinois, Patrick went on to compete for the U.S. Olympic Team. He placed sixth at the 2004 Olympic Team Trials and continued training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Patrick, who is from Wheaton, has also coached at the high school level with stints at Champaign Central and Neuqua Valley. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 2001 with a bachelor[apos]s degree in kinesiology.
