BUENA VISTA, Va. – Southern Virginia University Director of Athletics Josh Monsen has announced the hiring of Pete Hansen '14 as the university's next men's wrestling head coach.

Hansen becomes the fifth head coach in program history, succeeding Brigg Hoopes, who stepped down following four seasons at the helm.

A Southern Virginia alumnus, Hansen was one of the program's standout student-athletes, earning NCWA All-America honors in 2009 while also competing on the football team from 2005–09.

"Bringing an alumnus back to lead this program is incredibly special, and Coach Hansen made an immediate impression on us from day one," Monsen said. "He pairs a deep wealth of knowledge with an innate understanding of our program's culture. His character-driven leadership is exactly what we were looking for, and we cannot wait to see him guide this program into its next chapter."

Prior to returning to Southern Virginia, Hansen served as the inaugural head coach for the men's and women's wrestling programs at Emory & Henry, where he guided multiple national qualifiers and All-Americans in both the NCWA and NCWWC. He has also coached football at the collegiate level, serving on the staffs at Southern Virginia, Frostburg State, Methodist, and Emory & Henry.

"I am honored to be named the next head wrestling coach at Southern Virginia University," Hansen said. "This program gave me far more than the opportunity to compete—it gave me a foundation and relationships that have shaped my life. Now, I am excited for the chance to give back to the place that has meant so much to me. We have already shown that Knights can compete at the national level, and my vision is to build the depth, culture, and consistency that make national success the expectation rather than the exception."

Hansen served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tacoma, Washington, from 2001–03. He earned a bachelor's degree in business management and administration from Southern Virginia in 2014 and a master's degree in interdisciplinary studies from Frostburg State in 2020. He is currently completing his MBA at Emory & Henry, with an anticipated graduation date of August 2026.

After delivering the best NCAA Regional performance in program history last season, the Knights will look to continue their rise at both the conference and national levels under Hansen's leadership.

For the latest updates on Southern Virginia wrestling, visit KnightAthletics.com and follow @knight_wrestling on Instagram.