2007-08 VARSITY & JV WRESTLING COACHES

2007-08 ATHLETIC TRAINING STAFF

Coach Planakis, Head Coach
graduated from Fairfax High School in 1996 where he wrestled and played football all four years and was a contributing member of regional champion teams in both sports. His wrestling career highlights include: two-time Liberty District Champion, two time state qualifier and as a senior he placed 4th in the state of Virginia at 152 lbs. After high school Coach Planakis joined the United States Marine Corps where he served for four years wrestling briefly. While in the USMC he was stationed for three years in San Diego, and for six months he was stationed aboard an aircraft carrier with a deployment covering much of the pacific and the Middle East, porting in seven countries.
-- Upon completion of his enlistment in 2001, Coach Planakis enrolled at James Madison University where he earned a Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology and a Masters Degree in Teaching, completing his education in May of 2005. While at JMU he was active in the community service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega. He also worked as an assistant wrestling coach at Harrisonburg High School from 2003-2005.
-- Coach Planakis was hired at Marshall in July 2005 where he teaches Health, PE, and Drivers Education. In addition to coaching wrestling he is also an Assistant Coach for the Freshmen Football Team.

Coach Gleason, Assistant Coach
is a GCM parent, coach and fan of long standing in the Marshall community. He graduated from Yorktown High School in Arlington, attended college at Virginia Tech ( before I-81 was built :-), and served in the United States Marine Corps. He has been coaching youth sports since 1974, most recently as Marshall's Assistant Coach for Varsity Softball. He was also the Commissioner of Vienna Youth Wrestling from 1998-2000.
-- Coach Gleason's two children are both GCM graduates: Mark Gleason ('03) wrestled for the Statesmen and was also a Youth USA Freestlye/Greco wrestler. Katie Gleason ('06) is on the varsity softball team at Methodist College where she is studying Sports Marketing. Coach Gleason's wife, Pat Gleason, is also well-known around GCM: She is an ESOL teacher in the Fairfax County school system, and former Chairman of Marshall's 2006 All Night Grad party, GCM Booster Member and one of the original founders of the GCM Crew Club.
-- Coach Gleason has been a salesman in the technology industry for 37 years and we are extremely proud that he's an active member of the Marshall Statesmen community.

Coach Kaufman, Assistant Coach
graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1995 where he wrestled all four years. His wrestling career highlights included: National District Champion and State Qualifier as a senior at 119 lbs. Collegiately, he wrestled for the University of Virginia (UVA) from 1996 to 1999.
-- Coach Kaufman was an assistant wrestling coach for the Mount Vernon Youth League team ("Matt Monsters") in 2000. He was an assistant coach for Mount Vernon High School in 2001 and has been working as an assistant at Marshall since 2002.
-- Coach Kaufman earned a Bachelors Degree in Commerce from UVA in 1999 as well as a CPA and MBA from the University of Maryland in May 2006. He currently works as a Consultant at CGI Federal, where he has been since April 2003. In his leisure time he enjoys working out, reading and listening to music. He is currently engaged to be married.

Coach Patel, Assistant Coach
graduated from Fairfax High School in 1998 where he wrestled varsity all four years as a teammate of Coach Planakis. His wrestling career highlights include: three-time Regional qualifier, two-time state qualifier, and as a Senior he was the District champion, placed 2nd in the Northern Region, and was 4th in the state of Virginia at 103 lbs.
-- After high school, Coach Patel attended the University of Massachusetts (UMass) and graduated with a degree in Biology with a concentration in Genetics. He also worked on a degree in Psychology with a concentration in Neuropsychology and Child Behavior & Development. Coach Patel now helps run his family businesses focused in the hospitality industry and businesses.
-- Coach Patel is a terrific advocate for all of our wrestlers and always ready to pick up and mentor after an especially challenging bout.