Zack Esposito

Biography

Zack Esposito joined the NC State wrestling staff in April of 2024, and jumped right in the position by helping coach Trent Hidlay and Isaac Trumble at the U.S. Olympic Trials which resulted in both earning a spot on the national team. In his first season in Raleigh, he helped coach the Pack to boast a national champion for the first time since 2018, three All-Americans, and an ACC Champion. After the collegiate season concluded he also led the Wolfpack RTC members at the 2025 U.S. Open in Vegas which resulted in all five of his senior division athletes placing, as well as Trent Hidlay winning the 92 kg bracket to earn a ticket to Final X. "Zack is a big impact hire", said Popolizio. "He comes from an elite background of wrestling, has produced at all levels and is a proven winner. His values mirror everything that our program stands for and I am confident that we will continue to build on the momentum that has continued to grow in the past several seasons. He shares the same goals as the rest of us, to win a national title." After previously holding the associate head coach position at Oklahoma State for seven years, he was most recently the National Freestyle Development and Resident Coach for USA Wrestling, the national governing body for wrestling in the United States. In his position, Esposito coordinated the U.S. Pan American and World Teams at the U15, U17 and U20 levels. He also managed USA Wrestling's Elite U20 Resident Program, which trains at the U.S. Olympic & Par