Hanke is in his first season as an assistant wrestling coach at CSU Bakersfield
Hanke spent the past three seasons at American University working primarily with the 184-, 197- and 285-pound weight classes. He also handled multiple administrative duties including planning competition and training schedules, booking team travel, developing practice plans and the recruitment of student-athletes.
"Chad brings much needed experience to our upper weights," said Rivera. "He will do an excellent job developing our wrestlers both on and off the mat. We are excited to have him in Bakersfield."
During his tenure with the Eagles, he coached David Terao to All-America honors and helped nine other student-athletes qualify for the NCAA Championships. Hanke also coached University Freestyle National Champion Jeric Kasunic.
Academically, the Eagles excelled, earning 17 Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Academic Achievement Awards, 12 NCAA Academic All-America honors and had NCAA GPA finishes of third, fourth and sixth.
Hanke also served as a volunteer assistant at Pac-12 rival Oregon State for one season, while competing at the Northwest Regional Training Center in Corvallis. Hanke also competed for the Beavers as a student-athlete and was a four-year starter at the 197- and 285-pound classes. Over his four seasons, Hanke racked up 113 varsity wins and led the Beavers with a 35-5 record in 2012-13. He won the Pac-12 Championship that season and was a two-time national qualifier.
Hanke also competed nationally, winning the FILA Junior Freestyle National Champion in 2008 at 96 kilograms and finished second at the same weight in 2009. In 2011, he won the national championship in the University division and finished runner-up at the USA Wrestling Senior World Team Trials. In 2012, he was selected to participate in the 2012 USA Wrestling Olympic Team Trials and won his final national title in 2014 at 97 kilograms. Hanke placed sixth at the US Open in 2015 at 125 kilograms and took third in 2016 at the Bill Farrell Memorial International Open.
