PITTSFORD, N.Y. – St. John Fisher University Director of Athletics and Recreation Jennifer Granger announced on Friday that Zach Altman has been named the Cardinals’ head men’s wrestling coach following a national search.
Altman spent the 2025-26 season as an assistant coach at Adrian College and the 2024-25 season as the head coach at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. He follows Ryne Morrison, also a former Adrian assistant, as St. John Fisher’s second head wrestling coach since the program’s 2022-23 recommencement.
“I am honored and excited to take the lead of the St. John Fisher program,” Altman said. “Coach Morrison laid an impressive foundation these past four years. With the guys we have in the room and the support we have from the university, both academically and athletically, we are in a great position to get to work and jump levels immediately.”
During his time at Adrian under head coach Bill Schindel, Altman worked closely with 165-pounder Aiden Smith, a Central Regional Champion and an NCAA All-American at his weight class this past season. The Bulldogs were ranked as high as No. 18 in Division III during the year.
Altman, in his lone season at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, led the Panthers to a fourth-place finish in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championships. Four wrestlers earned podium spots in that tournament, with Cameron Carter-Green (285 lbs) and D.J. Slovick (174 lbs) placing second in their respective weight classes.
Altman spent part of the 2024-25 season as an assistant coach at Alma College before becoming the head coach at Pitt-Bradford. He spent three years prior to that coaching the Ringneck Wrestling Club in Napoleon, Ohio.
A 2023 graduate of Adrian, Altman wrestled for the Bulldogs for five seasons, serving as a team captain four times and placing at regionals twice. In 2023, he won a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) title, placed second at regionals and qualified for the NCAA Division Championships at 165 pounds. The Bulldogs claimed the MIAA title as a team that year, their first conference championship since Adrian restarted its wrestling program in 2015.
“I would like to welcome coach Altman to the Fisher Family,” Granger said. “I am confident that his vision will lead to continued growth and success of our wrestling program on and off the mat.”
What They Are Saying About Altman
"Having watched Zach grow over four years as a student-athlete and then excel as my assistant coach last season, I know firsthand what a massive win this is for St. John Fisher. His passion, work ethic, and commitment to the sport are unmatched. They are getting a great coach who truly cares about his athletes." – Bill Schindel, Head Wrestling Coach at Adrian College
“I couldn’t be happier for coach Altman. I’ve seen firsthand his character, work ethic and ability to build relationships with his student-athletes. With Zach at the helm, I’m confident the best days of Fisher Wrestling are ahead.” – Ryne Morrison, former St. John Fisher University and current Williams College Head Wrestling Coach
