Virginia Tech Director of Athletics Whit Babcock announced last week that head wrestling coach Tony Robie has agreed to a three-year contract extension that will keep him in Blacksburg through the 2025 season.
“We are fortunate to have Tony Robie and his talented staff leading our wrestling program at Virginia Tech,” Babcock said. “We were very pleased to keep Coach Robie in Blacksburg, and we are very optimistic about the continued trajectory of Virginia Tech wrestling under his leadership.”
Since taking over the reins of Hokies wrestling in February of 2017, Robie is responsible for two ACC tournament titles, an ACC dual meet title, the program’s first national champion, 13 All-Americans and 14 ACC champions. Robie is 34-11 in dual meets and has won the ACC Coach of the Year twice. Under Robie’s guidance, Mekhi Lewis won Tech’s first individual title in the 165-pound bracket as a redshirt freshman at the 2019 NCAA Championships.
“Speaking on behalf of my entire family, I want to sincerely thank Whit Babcock, Chris Helms and Virginia Tech for once again extending my contract,” Robie said. “Knowing that we will continue to call Christiansburg/Blacksburg home for the foreseeable future brings us great peace of mind, especially in these uncertain times. Being a part of this program and this community for the past 14 years has truly been an amazing experience. I love what we have going on and am very optimistic about the future.”
During the 2019-20 season, Robie’s third year as head coach, the program tied its highest ever ranking in the National Wrestling Coaches of America Coaches Poll at No. 3 in the country. The ranking came after the Hokies took down five consecutive ranked opponents and started the season 8-0.
Robie came to Virginia Tech in 2006 and served as the associate head coach for 11 seasons. During that time, he helped the program to its best-ever NCAA finish when the Hokies finished fourth in the 2016 tournament. With Robie on staff, Virginia Tech has placed in the top 11 at the NCAA championships for eight straight seasons.
–VT Athletics