New Jersey City University Athletics

 
Former World Champion and two-time United States Olympian Elena Pirozhkova was selected as the first-ever head coach of the New Jersey City University women’s wrestling program. Pirozhkova, 33, one of the most decorated American women in the history of the sport, will have the unique opportunity to develop the first-ever collegiate program in the state of New Jersey or the tri-state area, from the ground floor.
 
Pirozhkova [pronounced PEER-ahsh-COE-vuh], a 2012 and 2016 U.S. Olympian, was crowned the 2012 World Champion. A 2010 and 2014 World silver medalist and a 2013 World bronze medalist, she finished fifth at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. She wrestled for Team USA for 10 years (2007-17), wrapping up her competitive career in 2016-17 ranked No. 1 in the United States at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.
 
“Having a women’s program at NJCU is very exciting and I'm looking forward to being a part of this momentum in women’s wrestling in the NCAA,” said Pirozhkova. “NJCU is a great place to build a women’s program due to its location and resources. It’s exciting to start a new program and be part of history in the making.”
 
Shawn Tucker, Director of Athletics and Associate Vice President, added: “This is a great day in the history of New Jersey City University and our athletics program. We have hit a grand slam with the hiring of Elena Pirozhkova as our first-ever women’s wrestling coach. Elena is a world champion and an Olympian. She has done it all in the sport of wrestling and is a hero to young women in the sport around the country and the world. Her experience level cannot be understated. Coming on the heels of our historic announcement as the first women’s wrestling program in the state of New Jersey, the excitement level is very high. Adding Elena as the leader of this program will only elevate that excitement. NJCU will be a destination for girls from around the country who will want to be coached as a collegian by a true champion, both on the mat and in life.” 
 
Pirozhkova was a member of Team USA world championship and Olympic teams for nine straight years from 2008-16 and won an eight-time U.S. Open champion (2009-15, 2017). She captured the 2008 and 2010 University World championship, was a four-time Pan American Championships champion and a three-time Golden Grand Prix Finals champion. Pirozhkova was the 2010 USA Wrestling Women’s Wrestler of the Year.
 
“Elena Pirozhkova was one of the mainstays on our Senior National Team for a decade,” said Terry Steiner, USA Wrestling National Women’s Coach. “Elena is a past World champion with five World-level medals to her credit. She earned every bit of those medals. She started as just a normal kid and grew into a great champion for Team USA! There is no doubt in my mind that Elena will have a positive effect on the athletes she is around on a daily basis. I’m excited for Elena and also excited for New Jersey City University and the athletes she is coaching.”
 
Kyra Tirana Barry, the Team Leader for USA Wrestling Women's Freestyle at the 2016 Rio Olympics noted: “I am thrilled that Elena will be continuing her wrestling career as a collegiate coach in New Jersey. Over the last 10 years, I have watched Elena grow from a young senior team participant into a talented and thoughtful student of all aspects of the sport. She has long supported her peers, mentored up-and-coming athletes and more recently been an active board member guiding Beat the Streets. As women's wrestling moves toward NCAA Emerging Sport status, the sport will be fortunate to have Elena leading a program and contributing to collegiate wrestling's development and success."
 
At NJCU, Pirozhkova will serve as a head coach for the first time. During the 2019-20 academic year, she laid the foundation for the program, including recruiting, hiring assistant coaches, equipment and apparel, and development of the school's first wrestling room, in conjunction with men's wrestling head coach Harry Turner. The 2020-21 academic year is slated to be the first year of intercollegiate competition for the program although events will be limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During her competitive career, she has coached for Team New York at the Fargo Junior Nationals and has trained younger girls at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She has also served as an instructor at numerous clinics throughout her competitive years and worked with Beat the Streets as a coach.
 
“Having this program so close to home is an amazing opportunity for me as a coach and for the women on the East Coast,” Pirozhkova noted. “I'm excited to build a great, high-level program here in Jersey City.”

Pirozhkova has been a board member for Beat the Streets New York for nearly two years. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Bridgeport and is currently completing her PhD in Bridgeport’s Doctor of Chiropractic program.
 
A native of Greenfield, Massachusetts, she attended Greenfield High School where she was a 2005 ASICS High School All-American Second Team member and the 2005 United States Girls' Wrestling Association (USGWA) national champion. She placed third in the 2003 and 2004 USGWA Nationals. She started wrestling at the age of 13, competing primarily against boys in high school. Born in Russia, she moved to the United States at the age of three.
 
Pirozhkova resides in Jersey City, N.J. with her husband, Alan Vera, an international Greco-Roman wrestling star for Team USA, and formerly the Cuban National Team.
 
FULL BIO COURTESY OF TEAM USA
Career Notes

• 2012 and 2016 U.S. Olympic Team member
• Fifth at 2016 Olympic Games
• 2012 World Champion
• 2010 and 2014 World silver medalist
• 2013 World bronze medalist
• Nine straight U.S. World/Olympic Teams (2008-16)
• Eight-time U.S. Open champion (2009-15, 2017)
• 2008 and 2010 University World champion
• Four time Pan American Championships champion
• Three-time Golden Grand Prix Finals champion

 
Athletic Career Biography
2017: Third in Dave Schultz Memorial International… U.S. Open champion…
 
2016: Fifth at Olympic Games… U.S. Olympic Team Trials champion… Pan American Championships champion…
 
2015: UWW Golden Grand Prix Finals champion (Azerbaijan)… 10th in World Championships… Third in Grand Prix of Spain… U.S. World Team Trials champion… U.S. Open champion… Fifth in Mongolia Open… Cerro Pelado International champion (Cuba)… Dave Schultz Memorial International champion
 
2014: Second in World Championships… Golden Grand Prix champion (Azerbaijan)… Grand Prix of Spain champion… U.S. World Team Trials champion… U.S. Open champion… Cerro Pelado International champion (Cuba)… Second in Dave Schultz Memorial International…
 
2013: Henri Deglane Challenge champion (France)… Heydar Aliyev Golden Grand Prix champion (Azerbaijan)… Third in World Championships… U.S. World Team Trials champion… U.S. Open champion… Dave Schultz Memorial International champion… Second in Guelph Open (Canada)…
 
2012: World champion… U.S. World Team Wrestle-Off champion… DNP in Olympic Games… Canada Cup champion… U.S. Olympic Team Trials champion… Dave Schultz Memorial International champion… U.S. Open champion…
 
2011: Second in Pan American Games… Fifth in World Championships… U.S. World Team Trials champion… U.S. Open champion… Third in Grand Prix of Tourcoing (France)… Third in Dave Schultz Memorial International…
 
2010: Second in New York AC International… World University champion… World silver medalist… Third in Heydar Aliyev Golden Grand Prix (Azerbaijan)… Canada Cup champion… U.S. World Team Trials champion… Pan American Championships gold medalist… U.S. Open champion… Third in Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers Memorial International… Second in Dave Schultz Memorial International…
 
2009: New York AC International Open champion… Seventh in World Championships… Poland Open champion… U.S. World Team Trials champion… Pan American Championships gold medalist… U.S. Nationals champion… Ukrainian Memorial International champion… Dave Schultz Memorial International champion… Second in Guelph Open (Canada)…
 
2008: New York AC International champion… Hargobind International champion (Canada)… Eighth in World Championships… U.S. World Team Trials champion… World University champion… Fourth in U.S. Nationals… Pan American Championships gold medalist…
 
2007: Third in New York AC Holiday International… Hargobind International champion (Canada)… Second in Sunkist Kids International Open… Second in U.S. World Team Trials… Second in U.S. Nationals… Second in Pan American Championships… Third in Dave Schultz Memorial International… Second in Guelph Open (Canada)…
 
2006: Second in Henri Deglane Challenge (France)… Third in Clansmen International (Canada)… Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open champion… Second in Dave Schultz Memorial Open…

USA Age-group: Third in 2005 Junior Nationals… Fourth in 2004 Junior Nationals…
 
High School: Attended Greenfield High School in Massachusetts… 2005 ASICS High School All-American Second Team member… 2005 USGWA National champion… Third in 2003 and 2004 USGWA Nationals…
 
Awards: 2010 USA Wrestling Women’s Wrestler of the Year…
 
Personal: Daughter of Tatyana and the late Sergey Pirozhkova…U.S. Olympic Training Center resident-athlete… Born in Russia and moved to the U.S. when she was three years old… Has eight siblings: Natalia, Viktor, Alex, Olga, Marina, Nina, Rita and Maxim… Likes to draw, and go camping and hiking…