Since being hired in 2016, Coach Tsirtsis has helped re-establish Mount Carmel as one of the top wrestling programs in Illinois. The Coach of the Year award, presented by the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association, recognizes his impact not only on his numerous state titles but also on his development of young men.
Since taking over the Caravan program, he has had two wrestlers–Seth Mendoza ’25 and Sergio Lemley ’23–win back-to-back-to-back-to-back individual state titles. The program has also won two team state titles in Class 3A in 2022 and 2024. They were also the Class 3A State runner-up in 2020.
Coach Tsirtsis brought an impressive wrestling background to MC, having gone 236-0 at Griffith High School in Griffith, Indiana. He placed third, seventh, fourth, and fifth at the Big Ten Championships while wrestling at the University of Iowa, was 21-7 in home matches at Carver Hawkeye Arena, and was a qualifier for the NCAA wrestling tournament all four years in college.
Despite all his accomplishments, he remains humble and focused on his athletes. “He has a very humble background with the success he’s had, and now he’s translated that into coaching,” said MC Athletic Director Mr. Phil Segroves.
Although he was recognized with the award, Coach Tsirtsis was quick to note that his goal isn’t yet complete.
“It’s a great honor to be awarded with, but it should always be about progressing,” Coach Tsirtsis said. He also emphasized that it reflects the work of his wrestlers and his assistant coaches. “It shows the hard work that not only I put in, but the work the kids put in.”
Mr. Segroves said that Coach Tsirtsis’s impact reaches far beyond match results. “Coach Tsirtsis is one of the top wrestling coaches in the nation,” he said. “We’re lucky to have him here.”
This isn’t the first major honor for an MC head coach this year. Just two weeks ago, head football coach Jordan Lynch was named the Navy All-American Bowl Coach of the Year. “It shows that we have some of the best coaches in the Midwest,” said Coach Segroves.
Assistant wrestling coach Jack Mulay ’18 said Coach Tsirtis’s ability to connect with athletes is what sets him apart.
“There’s no one who deserves it more than him,” said Coach Mulay. “He pushes these kids to get the best out of them and helps them realize how gifted they are. He puts them in their best positions to succeed.”
Coach Tsirtis said he hopes his wrestlers carry lessons from the sport into their everyday lives. “The characteristics you put into the sport reflect on everything you do in your day-to-day life,” he said. “Taking those lessons you learn from the sport and applying them to your life.”
For Coach Tsirtis, watching wrestlers gain confidence through hard work is the most rewarding part of coaching. “It’s like a light bulb goes off,” he said. “They understand the work they put in gives them confidence when they compete.”
While no two of his teams have ever been the same, he only had one word to describe this one: “Hungry.”
