Pritts comes to Raleigh after nine years and two stints at the University of Missouri. He also worked three years as an assistant at Old Dominion.
“Lee is one of the most talented assistant coaches in the country,†Wolfpack head coach Carter Jordan said. “His energy and passion for the sport are contagious. We're extremely excited and fortunate to have him join our staff.â€
Pritts forged a reputation as one of the top recruiters in the country during his first stint at Missouri (1998-2004). Serving as an assistant to Tigers head coach Brian Smith, Pritts aided in turning around the Tiger wrestling program, recruiting some of the best high school athletes in the nation and molding them into NCAA All-Americans.
In 2004, Pritts left Missouri and became an assistant coach at Old Dominion University, where he helped build two top-10 recruiting classes. During his three-year tenure at ODU, the Monarchs sent nine wrestlers to the NCAA Championships. In 2008, James Nicholson, whom Pritts helped to recruit, became the first Monarch All-American in 13 years.
Pritts returned to Missouri at the start of the 2007-08 campaign and in three years helped coach seven Tigers to a total of 10 All-America honors.
Among the wrestlers Pritts recruited and coached at Missouri were:
• Max Askren (184) - 3-time All-American (2008, 2009, 2010), NCAA champion (2010)
• Scott Barker (184-197) - 2-time All-American (2002, 2003), NCAA runner-up (2003)
• Matt Pell (184-165) - 2-time All-American (2005, 2007)
• Ben Askren (174) - 4-time All-American (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007), 2-time NCAA champion (2006, 2007)
• Raymond Jordan (184) - 2-time All-American (2008, 2009)
During the summer of 2009, Pritts coached Tiger heavyweight Dominique Bradley to a FILA Junior World Freestyle Championship title. Earlier in the year, Bradley took gold at the FILA Junior World Team Trials held in Colorado Springs, Colo., earning a spot on the United States Junior Freestyle National Team.
Pritts attended Eastern Michigan University, where he wrestled at 118 pounds. He was a two-time team captain and made three appearances in the NCAA Championships, earning All-America honors in 1996. In addition to his collegiate accomplishments, Pritts qualified for the 2000 Olympic Trials.
Pritts was coached by Smith during his high school career at Western High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
A native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Pritts is married to the former Krista Kapeller and has one son, Briggs, age 5, and daughter Kelbi Gracin, age 2.
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