UTC coach Heath Eslinger watches from the edge of the mat during the 157-pound bout between Dylan Forzani and Gardner-Webb’s Tyler Marinelli at Maclellan Gymnasium on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Eslinger would pick up his 100th dual win in the 37-5 victory over Gardner-Webb.For the second time in three months, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga vice chancellor and athletic director Mark Wharton is having to replace a head coach of one of the school’s top programs.
Wrestling coach Heath Eslinger announced his resignation Thursday after nine seasons as the Mocs’ leader. Assistant Kyle Ruschell, who recently joined the program after eight seasons as a Wisconsin assistant, will serve as the interim coach.
Hall of Fame women’s basketball coach Jim Foster retired in April after 40 seasons of coaching, the last five at UTC. He was replaced by assistant Katie Burrows.
Eslinger, a former UTC standout wrestler, will move on to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, with a focus on coaching development as well as the “parent education side of sports.”
“I just want to be a change agent for good,” Eslinger told the Times Free Press on Thursday.