Few are more dedicated than Tanner McHugh.

McHugh’s determination helped him become a two-time state medalist at Tamaqua. His devotion led to a decorated career at Baldwin Wallace, where he finished his career tied for 24th on the all-time wins list with 83.

But McHugh’s latest distinction is one that serves as a clear step forward in his wrestling career.

McHugh recently began his tenure as an assistant coach with the Ohio Wesleyan University wrestling program.

It’s a position that has brought McHugh full circle, and a role that started with a homecoming at the recent Coal Cracker Tournament held at Lehighton.

A wrestling life

Having just completed his career at Baldwin Wallace University, McHugh thought he might settle into life after wrestling. A coaching career was never out of the question, and it certainly wasn’t out of reach.

“A little bit, but just not this soon,” McHugh said of the opportunity to get into coaching. “I thought I would work a little longer in the business setting. But once I started coaching in college, I think I kind of knew it was for me.

“I had surgery after my college career ended, and I think that was the perfect amount of time just to keep me off the mat. I don’t want to say I was burned out, but it was just a necessary break from 15 years of wrestling.”

McHugh studied marketing and finance at Baldwin Wallace, a Division III institution in Ohio, where he earned the Most Likely to Coach at BW Award following the his final campaign in 2021-22.

He put his time to good use both on and off the mat at Baldwin Wallace, earning his MBA in business during an extra year provided by the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s definitely been a process, definitely a learning experience,” McHugh said. “When I went to Baldwin Wallace, I kind of thought I knew a lot more than I really did in the sport and education wise as well. At Baldwin Wallace, it was just the perfect culture and everything like that. They were just big on making sure we were always developing, and the school was big on giving us opportunities; that’s why I went out to Cleveland because of all the business opportunities out there.

“So I had a lot of internships, which taught me what I did like, what I didn’t like about business.”

Passion and perspective

McHugh gained purpose about his future at Baldwin Wallace, a process altered by the circumstances surrounding the pandemic.

“The COVID year didn’t count, so it was a free year, which, in Division III you can’t redshirt, but it was essentially a redshirt for us, which was honestly really nice,” said McHigh. “Because it was around that time, I would say my sophomore year, I had a really great season, but I still thought that I was four (years) and done, which is why I went Division III. Once I got into my junior year and definitely my senior year, I wanted to use as much (of my time there) as I could.

“That’s when I really started to fall in love with the sport, and I was still thinking I wanted to do business, but I think I also knew coaching was the endgame.”

As a wrestler at Baldwin Wallace, McHugh won four letters, and was part of three Ohio Athletic Conference championship teams. He won All-OAC honors twice, and was a three-time Scholar All-American honoree by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, as well as a three-time Academic All-OAC pick.

During the 2021-22 season, he placed sixth at 141 pounds at the NCAA Division III Central Regional, helping Baldwin Wallace to a second-place regional finish. The Yellow Jackets went on to finish eighth at the NCAA Division III championship meet. He placed eighth at 141 pounds at the 2020 NCAA Division III Central Regional, helping BW win the team title, and placed sixth at 141 pounds at the 2019 NCAA Division III Central Regional, helping BW to a second-place finish.

Moving on

Following his wrestling career, McHugh worked at RUDIS – based in Marysville, Ohio and specializing in premium wrestling gear, apparel, wrestling shoes, and training shoes – for six months.

Living in Delaware, Ohio, about 17 miles from Marysville and home of Ohio Wesleyan, McHugh found his calling.

“I started volunteering there, and I saw it was a really special place, with a lot of room for growth,” McHugh said of Ohio Wesleyan, where he started volunteering in October. “Just the culture that I’m used to in Cleveland (at Baldwin Wallace) and bring it down to Columbus. I think once I started doing that ,,, I realized it was for me. And they had a paid position, and once I figured out the financial part of it with my girlfriend and everything and saw we could make it work, I knew it was time to jump into it.”

The coach at Ohio Wesleyan, Paul Reid – in his fifth season at OWU and who oversaw the program’s reinstatement of wrestling to varsity status in 2018-19 – wrestled for McHugh’s head coach at Baldwin Wallace, Jamie Gibbs, and also coached alongside him for a time in North Carolina.

“We blend really well together, and he’s a great guy that’s helping me a lot just starting out,” McHugh said of Reid. “I think it’s a perfect fit, for sure.”

McHugh, who is 23, also relates well with the squad’s wrestlers, having just completed his own career.

“When I first got there, I think one of the biggest things was just the guys, and it wasn’t just their potential, which I see a lot in them, but how well we connected,” he said. “I’m not that much older than some of them; some of them maybe five years, so I think that helps a lot. I’m still working out every day with them. We’re a young program, so we’re starting to get coaches in that can work with them, and they’re getting different looks with guys who have been through it all. That’s the biggest thing.

“And Coach Reid, he has a lot of experience, which really helps. And he’s just a great mentor for myself and the guys.”

Leading by example

McHugh has had a leadership role throughout his wrestling career.

At Tamaqua, he led by example and with results, placing eighth as a junior and sixth as a senior in 2017 at states.

McHugh won a district title his senior year for the Blue Raiders and placed third at regionals, also his best career finish.

The steady progression continued at Baldwin Wallace, though it wasn’t easy.

“It definitely was a culture shock, especially going into one of the top-10 programs in Division III every year,” said McHugh. “My first year was a struggle; there were a lot of things to work on. But I always say to kids coming in, because no matter who you are, you always hear stories of some of the best guys into the (wrestling) room and they can’t even get a takedown for months. And I tell kids that they might struggle, but after a month in a college room, you’re going to be the best wrestler you’ve ever been, and that’s just a month.

“It’s just about getting kids to buy in, and I think some kids can get homesick and things like that. But once they compete and see how much they’ve grown and everything like that against others and not just guys in the room all the time (that they realize it). That was a big thing for me. Once I competed and saw the gains I made, and just being in a program like that, and that’s what we’re instilling in our guys, too. Going from one practice a day to sometimes coming in at 6 a.m. working out with a coach for maybe only an hour, but all technique, and then coming back later (for another practice), a lot of high school kids just aren’t doing that.”

The structure was vital for McHugh both on the mat and in the classroom.

“Education wise, it was a big jump, too, but we’re just trying to build those habits,” said McHugh. “Same with the mornings (and practices), it’s the same with making sure you time block with studying. Once you build that habit after two weeks, once my mandatory study hours ended my freshman year (at Baldwin Wallace), I still kept with it all five years. It’s just about building those habits and buying into what the coaches are saying. From a technical standpoint, you just get way better. That’s the biggest thing when I look back on it.”

Full circle

The growth McHugh has shown throughout his career has set him up well for a future in coaching, one that began in a familiar place at the Coal Cracker, which featured Western Reserve Academy from Ohio.

“It was good to be home for a little bit,” McHugh said. “I had a couple guys of mine coming in here I was looking at. So just sort of been watching them, and once they’re done competing I’ll be able to talk with them, as well as talking with their parents and coaches and building those relationships. Just watching guys, seeing who is impressive and would be a good fit in our culture. It’s been a lot of fun getting back after it.”

McHugh maybe never saw himself as a recruiter. But his previous experience has prepared him for the role.

“It was a hard decision to leave RUDIS. There were a lot of great people that worked there,” he said. “But one thing they definitely taught me – I was in a sales role there – is just the importance of relationship building. Now, I’m trying to build relationships (with recruits) that hopefully we can have for four years.”

But the wrestler in McHugh is still very much alive.

“My favorite part, on the coaching side of things, is probably the developmental aspect, that’s just really fun, when kids buy in,” he said. “Going from the beginning of the season, if guys were making some mistakes, and now to see how much they’ve improved already, which is exciting, and makes me excited for our postseason and also the offseason, that’s where we’ll really make those gains. So that’s fun.

“But I love the recruiting part of it, too. You’re just talking to wrestlers. I’m just trying to show them that I’m going to develop them better than anyone else and give them a great education, which is something I know we can offer. That’s the best part.”

‘Dream job’

That he spent his first official day on the job at the Coal Cracker - surrounded by many familiar faces and with 60 teams in attendance - wasn’t a coincidence.

“I kind of had it circled, because I was talking to the one kid, and I’ve been trying to get to a lot of bordering states, like New Jersey, New York, and it’s hard to see those kids as much as our Ohio kids,” said McHugh, who stayed at home while he was in the area. “So I try to at least to do it once, because that goes a long way building relationships. Phone calls and texts are great, but being able to see them is big, besides just watching film. So I try to see them at least once.

“Going to states (in Hershey) is still up in the air. I’m hoping we get a couple of guys out to the big show for us and that’s the same weekend (in Ohio), and I knew I could make it to this, so I made sure I got here. And it was a good one.”

McHugh has made the most of every opportunity in his wrestling career. That’s not about to change at Ohio Wesleyan.

Or anywhere else.

“I don’t want to say it’s everything, but it’s just been a big part. Some people might frown on that, but it’s just been such a big part of my life and given me so many opportunities,” said McHugh. “I had the best five years of my life at Baldwin Wallace University, and now I’m starting a new journey in my dream job. I can’t thank it enough. And now I’m trying to get guys so we can compete with my alma mater that’s top 10 in the country.

“So that’s my dream there, to start that Ohio rivalry, and we’re going to need everything we can get to help build guys. And ultimately, I’m just trying to develop guys. Not many guys might get into the coaching role or anything like that, but I want to develop them into businessmen, doctors and everything like that. I’m very thankful for what the sport has given me, and what I’ll continue to give back to it.”

Maybe McHugh will lead his own program one day. Maybe not.

For now, he’s right where he needs to be.

“We get that question a lot: ‘How long are you going to be there?’ I’ve built some pretty tight relationships with people already. But as a Division III assistant, the endgame is usually to be a head coach,” said McHugh. “But I want to stay here for a while. My girlfriend and I are really happy there. It’s a great town. I want to help that program as much as I can.”