WAVERLY, Iowa — Wartburg College’s head wrestling coach, Eric Keller, announced today that Chris Ortner has been elevated to full-time assistant coach.

“We are ecstatic to have Chris Ortner at Wartburg full time,” said Keller. “We think he is one of the best upper weight coaches in the nation.”

Ortner will assume his new duties Aug. 1, 2013.

Ortner has spent the past eight seasons as an assistant coach and head recruiting coordinator with the program. The Knights have won the Iowa Conference Championship in each of those years and won six NCAA National Championships.

“Since coming to Wartburg in 2005, Wartburg’s upper weights have had 17 All-Americans and eight National Championships,” commented Keller. “He has coached student-athletes like Akeem Carter, Romeo Djoumessi, Blake Gillis, T.J. Miller, Byron Tate, and John Helgerson reach the pinnacle of this sport and achieve their goals in the classroom.

“I don’t know a coach more passionate about helping student athletes achieve their dreams than Chris,” Keller continued. “He has been “all in” since he began here in 2005 and has proven himself nationally. He believes in Wartburg College and does an outstanding job of relaying our mission and what is possible here. This is a unique place where special things happen, and no one does a better job getting that message to kids than Chris.”

Ortner previously led Waterloo (Columbus) High School to three consecutive top seven finishes at the Class 2A state tournament including a team championship in 2004.

Ortner was a two-time All-American for Wartburg as he placed sixth in 1997 and 1998 at 177 lbs.