ERIE, Pa. -- Director of Wrestling Jimmy Overhiser has announced the hiring of assistant coach Qian'te Wagner. Wagner will work with the men's wrestling program, bringing a wealth of coaching and competition experience. 

Wagner is comes to Mercyhurst most recently from Ohio, where he served as the assistant men's and women's wrestling coach at Rio Grande from 2024-26, where he helped launch the women's wrestling program and assisted in producing six national qualifiers between the two teams.
 
Prior to Rio Grande, Wagner coached with the women's wrestling program at McKendree during the 2023-24 season. The Bearcats finished fourth at the NCWWC National Championships, creating six All-Americans, and a national champion. Wagner also assisted the Bearcats in a third-place finish at the 2024 NCWA National Duals.
 
Before transitioning to the collegiate coaching ranks, Wagner served as an assistant coach at Belleville East High School, where he helped develop two IHSA state champions, three state finalists, and more than 15 IHSA state qualifiers. Through his work with local wrestling clubs throughout Illinois, he has also mentored multiple Illinois USA Wrestling freestyle state champions and finalists, along with more than 20 Fargo qualifiers and All-Americans over the course of his coaching career.
 
Wagner also brings an accomplished collegiate wrestling background to Mercyhurst, highlighted by multiple NCAA Division II postseason appearances and consistent success both on the mat, and academically. During a five-year career at McKendree, he earned over 90 career victories, achieved First-Team All-GLVC honors, competed at the NCAA Division II National Championships, and helped lead the program to a GLVC Team Championship in 2018, 2019 & 2020. 
 
Wagner was also a multi-time placer at prestigious tournaments including the Midwest Classic, Kaufman/Brand Open, and NCAA Super Regional competition, while earning multiple Academic & All-GLVC recognitions. In 2020, Wagner climbed as high as No. 3 nationally in NCAA Division II rankings before a career-ending injury cut short his final season.