The Waynesburg College wrestling program will be heading in a new direction this upcoming season with the hiring of three-time All-American and two-time Olympic alternate Charlie Heard as the Yellow Jackets' new head wrestling coach in April. Heard comes to Waynesburg with coaching experience both at the high school and collegiate level, including NCAA Division I.
Heard was an alternate for the Olympics both in 1984 (Los Angeles) and 1988 (Seoul, Korea). He, along with Olympic medalists Nate Carr, Kenny Monday and Bruce Baumgardner, were members of the United States World Team from 1983-85 that toured Russia, France, Venezuela, Cuba and Canada.
Heard has taught at clinics with Olympic gold medalist and current U.S. Olympic team head coach Kevin Jackson and former Olympic head coaches Bobby Douglas (1992 - Barcelona, Spain) and John Smith (1996 - Atlanta).
Heard comes to Waynesburg following a four-year stint at Belle Vernon High School, where he served as an assistant coach. Prior to his arrival in 1999, no Leopard wrestler had ever won a match at the state tournament and BV had been 19 years removed from sending a wrestler to the state championships. However in Heard's first season, a Belle Vernon wrestler went to states and placed in the top four. Heard and the Leopards did one better in his second year, as a wrestler was a state finalist.
In addition to his work with Belle Vernon, Heard coached West Allegheny's Ronny Torquinio, who recently finished his collegiate career at the University of Pittsburgh. Torquinio was one of just 11 wrestlers in Pitt history to be a four-time NCAA qualifier.
Heard began his coaching career in 1985 when he served as a graduate assistant coach at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. During his time with the Cowboys, he helped coach John Smith (1984-88) who finished his career with a school record 154 wins, a record which still stands. Smith also earned an Olympic gold medal and was a six-time world champion.
Following his time at OSU, Heard moved onto West Virginia University and served as an assistant coach. While with the Mountaineers, Heard coached three of the school's all-time wins leaders: Jim Akerly (1985-88), Scott Collins (1987-91) and Dominic Black (1988-91). In 1987, Akerly set a single-season school record with 40 wins, which still ranks first in school history. Akerley finished his career as the career wins leader before Collins tied his mark of 119 in 1991. The total now ranks second in Mountaineer history, as Greg Jones finished with 126 career victories in 2005.
Heard amassed impressive records of his own while on the mat in high school and college. While at Troupe County High School in Lagrange, Ga., he registered an astounding record of 101-2 in wrestling, while also playing baseball and football.
Following high school, he attended Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phoenix, Ala., before going to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Heard was a two-year member and captain of the UTC wrestling team and posted a record of 159-14 on the mat.
In 1990, he was inducted into the Georgia State Hall of Fame before receiving the same honor from the state of Tennessee in 1992. Heard was awarded the key to the State of Tennessee and also received the Tennessee State Joint Resolution No. 200 for excellent record of athletic achievement.
In addition to all his success and accolades for the sport of wrestling, Heard ran his own catering business - Heard's Southern Gourmet Packing - in Morgantown, W.Va., and has worked as a tennis trainer.
Heard resides in Morgantown, W.Va., with his wife Sandra and their daughters Shakana and Cherish.
