Tony Valek (Augsburg '12) was named the 11th head coach in the history of the Augsburg University men’s wrestling program in the summer of 2019, joining Jim Moulsoff as a co-head coach. He was named the solo head coach prior to the 2022-23 season. He served as a graduate assistant coach from 2012-14, assistant coach in 2014-15, and associate head coach from 2015-19. During his Augsburg coaching tenure, Valek has been a part of the 2014-15, 2018-19, 2022-23 and 2023-24 national title squads and national runner-up squads in 2016-17 and 2017-18, with 67 All-Americans (54 NCAA, 13 NWCA) and 13 national champions. Augsburg is 122-30 in dual meets in Valek’s 13 seasons, 49-6 as head coach.
Augsburg Coaching Highlights:
- Led the Auggies to a 16-0 dual-meet record, NWCA D-III National Duals title and a third-place finish at the NCAA Division III National Championships in 2024-25.
- Led the Auggies to their 15th NCAA Division III National Championship and an Upper Midwest Regional Championship in 2023-24.
- Guided the Auggies to their 14th NCAA Division III National Championship and an Upper Midwest Regional Championship in 2022-23.
- Led Augsburg to an Upper Midwest Regional Championship and third-place finish at the NCAA Division III National Championships in 2021-22.
- Led the Auggies to a No. 1 national ranking going into the 2020 NCAA Division III national championships, which were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Helped lead the Auggies to the 2019 NCAA Division III team national championship
- Guided Augsburg to a second-place team finish at the 2018 NCAA Division III National Championships and the 2018 NWCA National Dual Meet Championship.
- Guided Augsburg to a second-place team finish at the 2017 Division III National Championships.
- Helped lead the Auggies to the 2015 NCAA Division III team National Championship.
- Six-Time NCAA Region Coach of the Year (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020).
Previous Coaching Experience:
Associate Head Wrestling Coach (2015-19)
Assistant Head Wresting Coach (2014-15)
Graduate Assistant Wrestling Coach (2012-2014)
Assistance Coach: Minnesota/USA Wrestling Junior Freestyle National Team (2016-present)
Wrestling Career/Achievements:
- Three-time NCAA Division III All-American
- Four-time NCAA Division III national tournament qualifier
- NCAA Division III national runner-up at 149 pounds (2010, 2011)
- Team NCAA Division III national champions (2010)
- Team NCAA Division III national runner-up (2009, 2011, 2012)
- 136-25 career record
- 87 bonus-point victories (60 pins, six technical falls, 21 major decisions)
- Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District men's at-large selection
- Two-time first-team CoSIDA Academic All-America honoree
- Three-time NWCA Division III Scholar All-America
- NCAA Elite 89 Award winner
Other Duties/Campus Involvement at Augsburg:
Valek also serves as the Athletic Department Budget Manager.
Personal/Family Notes:
A native of Belle Plaine, Minn., Tony and his wife, Kassi Valek, reside in Blaine, Minn. with their sons Lincoln and Hudson. Valek received his bachelor’s degree in accounting and business management from Augsburg in 2012 and completed his master in arts of leadership at Augsburg in 2014.
Coaching Record By Year:
| Year |
Overall Record |
Overall Pct. |
Regional Finish |
National Finish |
Notes |
| 2024-25 |
16-0 |
1.000 |
2nd |
3rd |
NWCA D-III National Duals Champion |
| 2023-24 |
10-1 |
.909 |
1st |
1st |
NCAA Division III National Champions
Upper Midwest Region Champions |
| 2022-23 |
9-1 |
.900 |
1st |
1st |
NCAA Division III National Champions
Upper Midwest Region Champions |
| 2021-22 |
4-2 |
.667 |
1st |
3rd |
Upper Midwest Region Champions |
| 2020-21 |
2-0 |
1.000 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
| 2019-20 |
8-2 |
.800 |
1st |
N/A |
|
| Overall |
49-6 |
.891 |
|
|
|
