BRISTOL, Tenn. – King University vice president for athletics,
David Hicks announced the hire of
Blaze Shade as the next Tornado men's wrestling coach.
Shade joins the Tornado following a three-year stint as the head coach at Bluefield State University. He has been the only head coach in the history of the men's wrestling program at Bluefield State as the school started their program in 2020, first competing in 2021-22.
"Blaze brings a track record for excellence that will continue to elevate our men's wrestling program on the national level," Hicks said. "As a student-athlete and coach at UNC Pembroke, he succeeded at the highest levels of the NCAA, and as an assistant coach, he helped lead student-athletes to those same levels. In addition, as head coach at Bluefield State, he recruited and developed student-athletes who placed at the regional championships in just the second year of the program. "
Under Shade's tutelage, the Big Blue had two Super Region III placers in just their second season. In the classroom, one individual earned National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Academic All-America honors last season. Along with starting the program at Bluefield State, Shade helped design a wrestling room and weight room for the student-athletes.
"I feel honored to be named the head men's wrestling coach and help these student-athletes make a positive impact in competition, classroom, and community," said Shade, "I cannot wait to get started on implementing a system that develops great men and showcases King University to the highest standard."
Prior to his time in Bluefield, Shade spent three seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, UNC Pembroke. He helped guide the Braves to the 2020 Super Region II championship and two South Atlantic Conference Carolinas (SACC) titles. The Braves had six individuals garner All-America honors in that time along with 18 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships qualifiers. UNC Pembroke also had 21 NWCA Academic All-America honorees in those three years.
"Without a doubt Blaze's exemplary record as a student-athlete at UNCP speaks for itself," King head women's wrestling coach and assistant athletic director
Jason Moorman. "What was evident throughout interview process was his vision for the future of this program being 100 percent aligned with ours. I am excited to see, through his leadership and commitment to student-athlete success, Blaze take this program to its highest level."
While serving as an assistant coach at UNC Pembroke, Shade also was the head coach for the North Carolina Pride Wrestling Club. He developed practice schedules and oversaw the development of wrestlers ages 4-18. The development came in the weight room, in conditioning and in nutrition.
"From our first conversations, it was evident that Blaze's primary purpose was to develop young men and prepare them for success after college," continued Hicks. "With this as the foundation for his leadership style, success on the mat will undoubtedly follow."
Shade graduated from UNC Pembroke in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology while wrestling for the Braves. He was a four-time NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships qualifier and three time All-American. Shade was a national finalist in 2016 and 2017 and was selected Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Wrestler of the Year in 2016.
