Wrestling Welcomes Two-Time Olympian Plamen Paskalev, Promotes Ragan
Charleston, S.C. - Head Coach Rob Hjerling and The Citadel announced today the addition of Plamen Paskalev to the coaching staff of the wrestling team. Also, long-time Head Assistant Coach Jeff Ragan has been promoted to Associate Head Coach.
"I am very excited to have someone the caliber of Plamen Paskalev becoming a part of Citadel Wrestling," said Head Coach Rob Hjerling. "Plamen is going to be outstanding for our talented upper-weights. The addition of Coach Paskalev is one more thing that should help us turn the corner this year and take this program to a new level."
Paskalev is originally from Sofia, Bulgaria. He is a 12-time Bulgarian national champion, a three-time world team member, and a two-time Olympian. At the World Championships, he is a seven-time placer finishing seventh ('99), 11th ('94, '95, '98) and 12th ('97). He was fourth in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and 16th at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
He spent the 2007-2008 school year as an assistant at his alma mater, the University of Central Missouri.
He concluded his career in 2006 by becoming the first wrestler in UCM history to have a perfect record, finishing the season 18-0 and winning a national title. Paskalev became the fourth Central Missouri wrestler to win a national title and was the first to win one since 1991. He was a three time All-American at Central Missouri, finishing fourth at heavyweight in 2003, third at 197 in 2005 before winning it all in 2006. Paskalev has the highest winning percentage in school history for the Mules, winning 64 of his 69 matches (.928).
Ragan promoted. Jeff Ragan enters his tenth season with the wrestling program this year. After serving as long time head assistant to Rob Hjerling, Ragan has been promoted to Associate Head Coach.
Charleston, S.C. - Head Coach Rob Hjerling and The Citadel announced today the addition of Plamen Paskalev to the coaching staff of the wrestling team. Also, long-time Head Assistant Coach Jeff Ragan has been promoted to Associate Head Coach.
"I am very excited to have someone the caliber of Plamen Paskalev becoming a part of Citadel Wrestling," said Head Coach Rob Hjerling. "Plamen is going to be outstanding for our talented upper-weights. The addition of Coach Paskalev is one more thing that should help us turn the corner this year and take this program to a new level."
Paskalev is originally from Sofia, Bulgaria. He is a 12-time Bulgarian national champion, a three-time world team member, and a two-time Olympian. At the World Championships, he is a seven-time placer finishing seventh ('99), 11th ('94, '95, '98) and 12th ('97). He was fourth in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and 16th at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
He spent the 2007-2008 school year as an assistant at his alma mater, the University of Central Missouri.
He concluded his career in 2006 by becoming the first wrestler in UCM history to have a perfect record, finishing the season 18-0 and winning a national title. Paskalev became the fourth Central Missouri wrestler to win a national title and was the first to win one since 1991. He was a three time All-American at Central Missouri, finishing fourth at heavyweight in 2003, third at 197 in 2005 before winning it all in 2006. Paskalev has the highest winning percentage in school history for the Mules, winning 64 of his 69 matches (.928).
Ragan promoted. Jeff Ragan enters his tenth season with the wrestling program this year. After serving as long time head assistant to Rob Hjerling, Ragan has been promoted to Associate Head Coach.
