Hunter retires as Chadron State men's wrestling coach
Brett Hunter is stepping away from the Chadron State wrestling program, retiring as head men's wrestling coach after a career that left its mark on Nebraska wrestling at every level. It was first reported by NEwrestle.
A Rushville native, Hunter was a two-time state champion for Rushville High School before wrestling for Chadron State under Hall of Fame coach Scott Ritzen. He became the winningest wrestler in program history with 133 career wins and a two-time national champion (2007, 2009) -- still the only repeat national champion in Eagles history.
Hunter stayed on as an assistant under Ritzen before taking over as head coach for the 2012-13 season. Over more than a decade leading the program, he developed numerous NCAA qualifiers and All-Americans and guided the Eagles to the 2023-24 RMAC dual title, earning NWCA Region VI Coach of the Year honors. He was inducted into the Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches' Hall of Fame in 2019 and, outside the room, has taken up ultramarathon running, including a 100-mile finish at the Black Hills' Lean Horse Ultra.
Hunter is retiring to spend more time with his wife, Ashley, and their two kids, Paisley and Jax, closing out a career that shaped Nebraska wrestling from Rushville to the Chadron State mat and beyond.