Hired in September of 2008, Greg Ilaria enters his 14th season as the Head Wrestling Coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 2021-22. Under Ilaria the Mariners have posted a 98-69 dual meet record, won three Centennial Conference Championships, finished runner-up twice and finished in the Top-20 in the NCAA Championship three times (8th, 11th, 20th). At USMMA, Ilaria has coached 33 NCAA qualifiers, eight All-Americans and two National Champions. Ilaria was named the NWCA Rookie Coach of the Year in 2009, Centennial Conference Coach of the Year in 2011 and received the Dr. Stephen “Bill” Omeltchenko Coach of the year award in 2011 and 2016.
Ilaria came to the Academy after spending three seasons as a Teaching Fellow/Graduate Assistant Coach at Springfield College. In his three years at Springfield, Ilaria coached three All-Americans, six National Qualifiers and seven Academic All-Americans. Ilaria also provided Sport Psychology workshops, Athletic Counseling, mental skills training and academic mentoring for student-athletes at Springfield.
Before coaching at Springfield, Ilaria was the assistant wrestling coach at St. Peter's Prep High School in Jersey City, N.J.
Ilaria’s collegiate wrestling career began at Seton Hall University, where he was a two-year varsity wrestler. In 2001, Ilaria transferred to The College of New Jersey where he was a team captain and a two-time NCAA All-American.
Ilaria received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from The College of New Jersey in 2004 and a Master of Science degree in Psychology from Springfield College in 2008.
Ilaria is a native of Belleville, N.J. and currently resides with his wife Melissa in Long Beach, N.Y.
