Ep. 375 – Chris Notte: From JUCO National Champ to Building a Jersey Powerhouse at SJV

In Episode 375 of Airey Bros Radio, we go belly to belly with Chris Notte, head wrestling coach at St. John Vianney High School and one of the most respected names in New Jersey wrestling.A JUCO national champion and two-time NJCAA All-American at Nassau Community College, Notte went on to become a Big 12 finalist and two-time NCAA D1 qualifier at Oklahoma State. Now at the helm of SJV Wrestling, he’s led the program to five straight 10+ win seasons, coached multiple state champions, and developed elite wrestlers like Dean Peterson and Anthony Knox.

🎙 In this deep dive, Coach Notte shares:

• His journey from Willingboro to JUCO to Oklahoma State
  
  
• Why junior college was a game-changer for his career and his identity
  
  
• What he learned training under John Smith and competing at the D1 level
  
  
• The evolution of SJV Wrestling into a Shore Conference and national powerhouse
  
  
• The role of faith, discipline, and emotional intelligence in coaching
  
  
• How he keeps athletes focused during off-the-mat adversity
  
  

Whether you’re a wrestler, coach, parent, or just love underdog stories, this is one you won’t want to miss.📍 Watch the original livestream on YouTube: YouTube.com/@aireybros
🎧 Now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.
☕ Fueled Black Sheep Endurance Coaching




📓 Show Notes / Timestamps

• 0:00 – Intro: Pork roll vs. Taylor Ham, Shore Conference roots
  
  
• 5:00 – Early life in Willingboro & sneaking into wrestling
  
  
• 15:00 – High school grind, family influence, multi-sport background
  
  
• 28:00 – JUCO route: Nassau Community College & national championship
  
  
• 35:00 – Making the leap to Oklahoma State, life under Coach John Smith
  
  
• 50:00 – Faith, fatherhood, and coaching philosophy
  
  
• 1:04:00 – Coaching Dean Peterson & Anthony Knox
  
  
• 1:08:00 – Building the SJV culture & lessons from adversity
  
  
• 1:15:00 – Final Four: Coffee, scripture, guilty pleasures & beach vibes
  
  
• 1:23:00 – Outro: What’s next for SJV Wrestling