MEET THE COACHING STAFF
At Boone RTC, we have a team of experienced coaches who are dedicated to helping our athletes reach their full potential. Our coaches have years of experience in the sport of wrestling and are committed to providing the best training possible.
JohnMark Bentley
HEAD COACH
JohnMark Bentley, a highly decorated wrestling coach, has received multiple accolades during his 14-year tenure, including six SoCon Coach of the Year awards and three-time national coach of the year finalist. Bentley has led the Mountaineers to numerous SoCon titles, both regular season and tournament. Under his guidance, the team has achieved an impressive 134-75-1 dual record with seven SoCon regular-season titles. Bentley has fostered a strong wrestling culture at App State, consistently attracting top teams and large crowds. The program's success includes NCAA Championship qualifiers and victories against notable opponents, and Bentley himself boasts an accomplished wrestling career. Bentley's dedication to the sport extends to community service and academic excellence, exemplifying his well-rounded approach to coaching.
Randall Diabe
ASSISTANT COACH
In October 2020, Randall Diabe, an App State Wrestling alum, was promoted to a full-time assistant coaching role for the team. He began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant in the 2019-20 season, contributing to the team's impressive 9-3 record, a school-record six NCAA qualifiers, and four shutouts. In 2021, under Diabe's coaching, App State achieved a school record with seven NCAA Championships qualifiers and five conference champions, tying with NC State and Arizona State in Division I wrestling. Diabe had a successful competitive career, culminating in 2019 with a record of 77-48 and an All-Southern Conference title at 197 pounds, earning him an automatic NCAA berth. He graduated with a degree in health promotion and a minor in nutrition in December 2019.
Jarrod Patterson
ASSISTANT COACH
Jarrod Patterson, who became a full-time assistant coach for App State Wrestling in August 2023, played a pivotal role in the team's success in the 2022-23 season, which included a No. 20 national ranking, a SoCon regular-season title, a conference tournament victory, and six wrestlers qualifying for the NCAA Championships. Patterson, an All-American and Academic All-American from the University of Oklahoma, initially joined App State as a volunteer assistant in 2022. Before his college coaching career, he coached at Sand Springs High School in Oklahoma, guiding multiple state placers and finalists. Patterson's own wrestling career boasts high school state championships, a strong collegiate performance, and four NCAA Championship appearances. He holds a bachelor's degree in criminology and a master's degree in human relations from Oklahoma and received multiple Academic All-American and All-Big XII honors.
Hunter Richard
ASSISTANT COACH
In September 2023, App State Wrestling welcomed Hunter Richard as an assistant coach. Richard, a two-time NCAA qualifier from Cornell, had an impressive 2021-22 season, finishing in the top 16 at 157 pounds at the NCAA Championships. He also qualified in 2020 but Ivy League teams didn't compete due to COVID-19. App State Wrestling, which had a remarkable 2022-23 season, brought him on board as part of their coaching staff.
Richard, who holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Cornell, was not only a standout on the mat but also excelled academically, earning honors such as Academic All-Ivy and EIWA All-Academic awards. He has a background in the financial sector and hails from Barneveld, N.Y., with a successful high school wrestling career and multiple All-American accolades. Richard's coaching addition complements a staff with extensive Division I wrestling experience.
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