Jim Stanec Last College: Cornell, 2002. Position: Assistant Coach Years at Virginia: 2nd Season

Jim Stanec is in his second season as an assistant coach at UVa. In just his first season with Virginia, Stanec helped guide the Cavaliers to an impressive record of 12-5 overall, including a perfect 4-0 mark in the ACC. It was UVa’s best overall record and the Cavaliers’ best finish in the ACC in 28 seasons. Virginia matched both the overall win totals (12) and the undefeated mark in conference action (4-0) that was last recorded by the 1975 squad that finished 12-3 overall, 4-0 in the ACC. Stanec also helped guide three wrestlers to Nationals and two wrestlers to individual titles at the ACC Championships.

Stanec joined the Virginia coaching after wrapping up his collegiate wrestling career with the Cornell wrestling program and where he competed for the Big Red from 1997-2002. In 2001-2002, Stanec gathered All-American honors and finished the season with an overall record of 34-12 at 174 pounds. He was an NCAA qualifier and finished 2-2 in the 2002 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Albany, N.Y. A senior co-captain for Cornell, Stanec finished first at the 33rd annual New York State Championships, took third at the EIWA Championships, placed fifth at the Las Vegas Invitational and finished seventh at the Midlands Championships in Chicago.

Stanec was the recipient of the Peter J. Floros Award as the team’s most valuable wrestler at Cornell. In 2000-2001, he led all Big Red wrestlers in victories and made a brilliant run to All-America honors at the NCAA Championships. Stanec won six consecutive matches at the Las Vegas Invitational and eventually placed seventh in the nation. Stanec was 10-1 in dual meets that season, including a perfect record against Ivy League opponents. He was named to the All-Ivy League First Team. After placing second at the EIWA championships, he won five of seven matches to also earn All-America honors. In doing so, Stanec became Cornell’s first All-American since 1997. He also earned the Carl W.E. Almquist Trophy for the most improved wrestler as a sophomore.

In high school (St. Louis Country Day School), Stanec placed third in the state wrestling meet (Missouri) and was an Academic All-State selection as a wrestler, as well as an All-State selection in football. Stanec was also the State Freestyle Champion and a Junior National Team member in wrestling in 1997.