“It’s been an honor to work with the Wisconsin wrestling team the last 16 years and I am confident the program is heading in the right direction,” Chelesvig said. “My time here has been very memorable but I feel it is time for me to move on to a new chapter in my professional life. It has been a pleasure to work with Barry (Davis), my fellow assistant coaches and all the great wrestlers that have come through the Badger wrestling program within the last 16 years.”
Chelesvig has been on the UW coaching staff since Davis accepted the head coaching position during the 1994-95 season. He also wrestled under Davis while at Iowa from 1987-92. Chelesvig helped coach Wisconsin’s upper-weight wrestlers and also handled the team’s office operations off the mat. Chelesvig’s official last day with the team will be Aug. 31.
“Bart has been a big part of our program’s success since I’ve been at Wisconsin,” Davis said. “Even though Bart is moving on, I’m sure he will continue to follow and stay in touch with the program. We wish him all the best as he continues his career.”
Pritzlaff will be named associate head coach of the Badger wrestling program, beginning Sept. 1. Pritzlaff, a two-time NCAA champion and three-time Big Ten champion while wrestling under Davis at Wisconsin, begins his fourth season on the Badger coaching staff. He works with UW’s middle-weight wrestlers and helped Andrew Howe reach the NCAA finals in his freshman season.
After college, Pritzlaff served as a volunteer assistant coach with the Badgers before moving on to work as an assistant at Hofstra for three years. The Lyndhurst, N.J., native concluded his competitive wrestling career last summer when he trained for the 2008 Olympic Team Trials. Prtizlaff currently lives in Madison with his wife Robin and daughter Adalena.
“Donny has been a great addition to our coaching staff and we’re excited about the future with him as associate head coach,” Davis said. “He was a very hard-working wrestler and he has used those skills to develop into a great coach. Our program is heading in the right direction and I am fully confident Donny will do everything he can to help continue the success of Wisconsin wrestling.”
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