Lanham Adds Erkin Tadzhimetov as Assistant Coach

DURHAM, N.C. — Duke wrestling head coach Glen Lanham announced Thursday the addition of Erkin Tadzhimetov as an assistant coach. Tadzhimetov will coach the 125-149 weight classes.

"We are thrilled to be able to add Erkin and his experience working with the 125-149 weight classes to our outstanding group of coaches," said Lanham. "This is the first time we've really focused on trying to add a lightweight coach on our staff. In the past, we really haven't had a lightweight coach and we all have assumed those duties. But with the way the landscape of things are these days, combined with this great opportunity to get Erkin, we felt like it was the right move. Erkin has put lightweights on the podium and we felt like it was time for us to focus on that area, try to develop guys and get a coach that really knows the feel of being a lightweight. As class gets set to start for the fall, we are excited about getting on the mat and working hard."

Tadzhimetov arrives at Duke after spending the last 16 seasons at Utah Valley University (UVU), including the final 12 as the associate head coach with the Wolverines.

"I am excited to be an assistant wrestling coach at Duke University," said Tadzhimetov. "I'm looking forward to working alongside the coaching staff and mentoring student-athletes to achieve their goals on and off the mat. I am eager to contribute my experience to the team's success and can't wait to get started!"

Since Utah Valley became eligible for postseason competition at the Division I level (July 2009), Tadzhimetov helped at least one wrestler qualify for the NCAA Championships every year over the last 15 years.

In 2022-23, Tadzhimetov helped UVU crown multiple All-Americans for the first time in program history, as Taylor LaMont placed fifth at the 2021 NCAA Championships at 125 pounds and Demetrius Romero placed sixth at 174 pounds. Tadzhimetov also helped Romero become the program's inaugural two-time Big 12 Champion in the spring of 2021, as Romero won the second Big 12 Conference title of his career and a program-record of six Wolverine grapplers earn podium finishes at the 2021 Big 12 Championships.

He helped lead Utah Valley with three NCAA qualifiers and a First Team All-American in 2019-20, six qualifiers in 2018-19 and five qualifiers in 2017-18. In 2015-16, Tadzhimetov helped the Wolverines pick up a 20-19 upset win at No. 18 Oregon State en route to receiving the program's first votes for the top 25 poll. He also helped five Wolverine grapplers earn a spot on the podium at the 2016 Big 12 Championship, two qualify for the 2016 NCAA Championships and Utah Valley crown its second All-American in school history in senior 133-pounder Jade Rauser.

Tadzhimetov returned to Utah Valley as an assistant coach after wrestling for the Wolverines from 2003-06. He tallied an overall record of 48 wins and 16 losses during his two seasons competing at 133 pounds. During his tenure at Utah Valley, Tadzhimetov's 48 career victories made him the all-time wins leader at that time. His 48 victories now place him sixth on the UVU all-time leader board. In his senior season (05-06), he collected 30 wins which currently rank fourth in single-season victories at UVU.

Prior to wrestling at UVU, Tadzhimetov wrestled for Colby Community College in Colby, Kansas for two seasons. While at Colby Community College, he was a NJCAA runner-up in 2003.

Tadzhimetov grew up in Tashkent, Uzbekistan where he prepped at the Olympic Sport School. He was a nine-time National Champion and a three-time World Junior Placer. In December 2015, Tadzhimetov placed fourth at the U.S. Senior Nationals after wrestling his way to an impressive 5-2 record at the event. The fourth-place finish then earned him a spot at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials in Iowa City, Iowa, in April 2016.

Tadzhimetov received his degree in Behavioral Science with an emphasis in Sociology from Utah Valley University in 2007.

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Lanham Adds Erkin Tadzhimetov as Assistant Coach

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