Former Stanford wrestling assistant coach Alex Tirapelle rejoined the staff in 2017-18 after spending three seasons as the head coach at Penn. He completed his fourth season as an assistant coach and his eighth overall as a part of the Cardinal program in 2020-21.
Tirapelle served as an assistant coach for Stanford from 2010-14 before becoming the head coach at Penn (2014-17). While on The Farm, Tirapelle helped guide the Cardinal to its best dual-season record in school history with a 17-5 mark in 2013-14. That year's team sent five wrestlers to the NCAA Championships – tying a then-school record. Four of the five NCAA qualifiers were Pac-12 champions, also a school record.
In his eight combined seasons at Stanford, Tirapelle helped 28 wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championships, including Stanford's second NCAA champion Shane Griffith and its second three-time All-American and first two-time NCAA finalist in Nick Amuchastegui. The Cardinal earned 10 total All-America honors during Tirapelle's tenure, including three at the 2011 NCAA Championships in Philadelphia – the highest All-America output at any NCAA Championships by a Stanford squad. The three All-Americans in 2011 propelled the Cardinal to an 11th-place finish overall, the highest team finish in program history. Stanford matched its record with three All-Americans in 2020.
During his tenure at Penn, Tirapelle went 21-18 in duals and had 13 wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championships, including All-American Casey Kent in 2016.
Tirapelle served as an assistant coach for Stanford from 2010-14 before becoming the head coach at Penn (2014-17). While on The Farm, Tirapelle helped guide the Cardinal to its best dual-season record in school history with a 17-5 mark in 2013-14. That year's team sent five wrestlers to the NCAA Championships – tying a then-school record. Four of the five NCAA qualifiers were Pac-12 champions, also a school record.
In his eight combined seasons at Stanford, Tirapelle helped 28 wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championships, including Stanford's second NCAA champion Shane Griffith and its second three-time All-American and first two-time NCAA finalist in Nick Amuchastegui. The Cardinal earned 10 total All-America honors during Tirapelle's tenure, including three at the 2011 NCAA Championships in Philadelphia – the highest All-America output at any NCAA Championships by a Stanford squad. The three All-Americans in 2011 propelled the Cardinal to an 11th-place finish overall, the highest team finish in program history. Stanford matched its record with three All-Americans in 2020.
During his tenure at Penn, Tirapelle went 21-18 in duals and had 13 wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championships, including All-American Casey Kent in 2016.