Tony Valek

Learning Lessons On The Wrestling Mat

On the Spot Q&A with Men’s Wrestling Head Coach Tony Valek

Once Tony Valek ’12, ’14 MAL became part of the Augsburg University community, he never left. From student wrestler to head wrestling coach, he remains invested in training the next generation of Auggies—helping them not only grow as athletes, but as human beings ready for life after graduation. Amateur wrestling website The Open Mat named Valek the 2022–23 NCAA Division III Coach of the Year for leading the men’s wrestling team to its 14th national championship in program history. Following last season’s tremendous success, Valek reflects on his Augsburg journey and what he loves most about coaching.

Q: How did you end up at Augsburg?

A: I’ve been involved in the Augsburg community for quite a while. My older brother, Ryan Valek ’06, actually attended and wrestled at Augsburg. The relationships with the coaches—like Coach [Jeff] Swenson—and the people ended up drawing me here. I wrestled at Augsburg from 2008 to 2012, and I really haven’t left. I was the graduate assistant coach for two years, and then I became a full-time coach in the 2014–15 season and have been here ever since. Continue reading at augsburg.edu →

Augsburg men’s wrestling announces organizational changes

MINNEAPOLIS — The 13-time NCAA Division III national champion Augsburg University men’s wrestling team has announced organizational changes in its coaching staff, with three-time Auggie All-American Tony Valek ’12 assuming solo head coaching duties, and longtime coach Jim Moulsoff assuming associate head coach duties.

Valek and Moulsoff have served as co-head coaches for the past three seasons, with Moulsoff serving as head coach from 2014-19. Moulsoff has been on the Augsburg coaching staff for 15 seasons, while Valek has been on the coaching staff for nine years. Valek served as associate head coach under Moulsoff from 2015-19. The pair have been a part of six top-five finishes in NCAA Division III national competition since 2015, winning team national championships in 2015 and 2019, finishing second in 2017 and 2018, and finishing fifth in 2016. The Auggies finished third at the 2022 national championships.

The head coaching transition has been planned since 2018, according to Augsburg Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79, who led the Auggie men’s wrestling program to 10 national titles in his 25-season tenure (1980-94, 1986-2007) as head coach. Valek and Moulsoff were named co-head coaches in the 2019-20 season.

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SHORT TIME PODCAST: Mic’d Up Matside with Augsburg’s Tony Valek

Episode 698 of the Short Time Wrestling Podcast is just that. With some new wireless devices used to record audio, I hit record on Augsburg co-head coach Tony Valek during the annual Battle of the Burgs dual on January 27 in Minneapolis. What this episode highlights is Valek’s coaching style just as the meet begins, during the competition and how he gets athletes ready during the moments before competing, during injury time and some interactions with the staff as they go through a heated dual meet. 

Valek joins Moulsoff as men’s wrestling co-head coaches

MINNEAPOLIS — After serving on the Augsburg University men’s wrestling coaching staff for the past seven seasons, three-time Augsburg All-American Tony Valek ’12 will join current head coach Jim Moulsoff as co-head coaches of the Auggie men’s wrestling program, the university has announced.

Valek served as a graduate assistant coach for the Auggies from 2012-14, and has been the Auggies’ associate head coach since 2014.

“Tony has worked side by side with me over the past five seasons and is very deserving of this promotion,” Moulsoff said. “We are excited to continue working together to provide a great academic and athletic experience for our wrestlers.”

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