Oregon State wrestling head coach Jim Zalesky has named Chad Lamer the Beavers’ volunteer assistant coach, it was announced on Thursday.
 
Lamer, a three-time Division II national champion during his collegiate career at South Dakota State, replaces Travis Pascoe, who took an assistant coach position at Arizona State in early August.
 
“We’ve been looking for an upper-weight coach, mainly, and Chad knows that area,” Zalesky said. “I’ve worked with Chad in the past with the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. I’ve known him for a long time and what kind of character he brings to the table. I know he can really help our upper weights.”
 
“The time was great for Jim to have me come aboard,” Lamer said. “I’m very excited to be here. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
 
Lamer wrestled at South Dakota State from 1992-96, taking home three national titles – the first two at 177 pounds, followed by a 190-pound title in 1996. He ended his collegiate career with a 130-30-2 record, finishing, at the time, as the school’s all-time leader in wins.
 
He has collegiate coaching experience, serving as South Dakota State’s volunteer assistant for three seasons, most recently during the team’s 2008-09 campaign.
 
After his collegiate career came to a close, he competed nationally and internationally as a member of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club under Zalesky. It was while with the club he earned a University World Freestyle Championship in the 97-kilogram weight class in 2000 and placed third in the U.S. National Freestyle Championships and fourth in the U.S. Olympic Freestyle Trials the same year.
 
“Jim asked me to be a part of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club and so I trained under him for seven years,” Lamer said. “He treated me so well and taught me so much. I feel like it’s a good fit and Jim must feel the same if he asked me to help out at Oregon State.”
 
In 2001 and 2002, he competed as a member of the United States National Freestyle Team. He placed second at the both U.S. National Freestyle Championships and U.S. World Freestyle Trials at 96 kilograms each year.
 
Lamer concluded his competitive career by wrestling in the 2004 Olympic Trials.
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact Hank Hager at (541) 737-7472.