"I am very proud to have Matt Pell coming home to coach at Mizzou," Smith said. "He had a great career here as a student-athlete and over the past two years he has developed under Coach (Steve) Garland's tutelage as an outstanding recruiter and coach. Coach Pell will be on staff at all of the Tiger Style Camps this summer."
During his four year career at Missouri, Pell earned top-eight finishes at the 2005 and 2007 NCAA Championships. Pell wrestled in three different weight classes throughout his time as a Tiger, earning his first All-America nod at 184 pounds and his second, a third place finish at 165 pounds, his senior year (2007). Pell was a key member of Missouri's 10-man lineup in 2007 and aided the team to its highest NCAA finish in program history, third. Additionally, Pell was the recipient of the Gorarrian Award for most falls at the 2007 NCAA Championships, four. In four years, Pell managed a 121-35 career record and was a four-time NCAA qualifier.
"I'm excited to come home to Missouri," Pell said. "I'm grateful for the opportunity and experience that Coach Garland provided me over the past two seasons. I learned a lot during my time at Virginia and hope to bring what I've learned back to Missouri."
As an assistant at UVA, Pell coached the Cavaliers to one of their best seasons in program history (2008) crowning two ACC Champions and sending three individuals to the NCAA Championships. In 2009, Pell and the UVA wrestling staff coached 174-pounder Chris Henrich to All-America honors. Henrich became the 10th All-American in Virginia's wrestling history and first since 2004.
"While at Missouri we never reached our goal of winning a national team title," Pell said. "I look at the team that is in place now at Missouri and I'm anxious to get back to Columbia and go to work. I think Missouri has a solid group of guys that have the capability to win a national title. I'm looking forward to working with, and helping develop, some of the wrestlers that are on the Missouri team."
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