Overlie accepts teaching, coaching job at Elko

After spending 15 years guiding the Greenwave wrestling program, Mitch Overlie found a new home where he can return to his coaching roots.

Overlie, who also coached cross country and helped with the long distance runners in the track season, accepted an English teaching position at Elko High School and will assist with the Indians’ wrestling program.

“There are so many great memories here. I have made so many life-long friends,” Overlie said. “I will take all the experience I have gained to try to make Elko a little better. I just hope the legacy I left Fallon with is one of enthusiasm and love for the students, athletes and colleagues.”

Overlie helped continue a strong tradition of wrestling that saw the Greenwave win individual state titles and state team academic titles while competing in the state’s largest division. Overlie saw several continue their career onto the next level, including Riley Orozco, a Pac-12 champ from Bakersfield, and Colin Merkley, an NAIA All-American.

“I tried to instill hard work and appreciation for the subjects I taught and the sports I coached,” said Overlie, who is thankful for the community support and wishes the Greenwave well while he’s decked out in maroon. “Along the way, I taught about life. I learned more from my students and athletes than I could ever repay them for.”

Toward the end of his coaching career, a dark cloud surrounded the program and school when a hazing scandal surfaced in 2010. Overlie said in his last year with the Greenwave four years later, he and his staff took the proper action in reporting the incident. But Overlie wasn’t allowed by the school district to coach past the 2014 wrestling season in a controversial decision amid enormous amounts of support for “Coach O.”

Fallon, though, got the last word when Overlie’s team rallied at the state tournament to finish second behind Lowry. The Greenwave, with upperclassmen who wrestled their first two years under Overlie, won the school’s first-ever state title four months ago.

“I’m excited for Mitch,” said Trevor de Braga, who wrestled for Overlie and coached the team to the state title this season in his first season. “He’s a man with great knowledge and deserves to be out giving his expertise in the classroom and in athletics to kids.”

De Braga, like many of those who wrestled for or coached alongside Overlie, feels that Fallon’s loss will be Elko’s gain when the next chapter in Division I-A athletics begins in August.

“It’s sad to see such a great man and a great friend leave our community but Elko is gaining a ton with Mitch taking the job,” he said. “He’s been a great friend of mine and a great role model and he will do great for Elko. Those kids are very fortunate to have a man like him coming to their community.”