COLUMBIA, Mo. — Mizzou wrestling head coach Brian Smith announced the hiring of Brian Vargas as the program’s general manager on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Brian Vargas is an accomplished entrepreneur, business owner and executive with more than 30 years of experience in business leadership, operations, sales, strategic growth and team development.
“Brian brings a unique combination of business leadership, wrestling experience and a proven track record in fundraising. As college athletics continues to evolve, we have to evolve with it, and Brian will play a major role in growing our program in the NIL era,” coach Smith said. “We want recruits and their families to know that when they choose our program, we’re going to take care of them. This hire is also about taking care of our wrestling family and giving our fans, alumni and donors a program they can continue to be proud of.”
Since 2006, Vargas has served as President and COO of Rocky Mountain Expedited, a Landstar Transportation Agency, where he has built a successful business managing complex transportation operations and developing long-term relationships across the utility, infrastructure and transportation industries. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership positions with responsibility for P&L performance, sales, operations and organizational growth, including helping scale regional revenue by more than 300% while significantly improving profitability.
“I chose to join Tiger Style because I believe in the tradition of this program and where it can go,” Vargas said. “The opportunity to combine my passion for wrestling with more than 30 years of business and leadership experience is incredibly meaningful to me. I’m excited to work with our coaches and student-athletes, strengthen relationships with alumni, donors and the business community and help provide the resources and opportunities needed to compete at the highest level. My family and I are proud to make Columbia our home, and I’m ready to get to work.”
Vargas’ entrepreneurial experience also includes founding and building Two Boys Donuts into a multi-unit operation consisting of five retail locations, a food truck and a centralized production commissary. As founder and sole owner, he led the strategic and operational direction of the company, including expansion, brand development, staffing, financial performance, vendor relationships and customer experience.
In addition to his business career, Vargas has been involved with wrestling for over 40 years, most notably as a high school coach at his alma mater from 2007–2018, where he helped develop 38 state place winners, including six individual state champions. During his tenure, the program won three district team championships, finished district runner-up seven times and recorded six top-10 team finishes at the state tournament, including one top-five finish.
As general manager, Vargas will focus on the continued growth and long-term success of Mizzou Wrestling, working closely with the coaching staff and athletics leadership on recruiting, program operations, fundraising, strategic partnerships and alumni and donor engagement.
A key part of his role will be serving as a liaison between the coaching staff and student-athletes on NIL agreements and related opportunities, helping facilitate communication, coordination and expectations throughout the process. Vargas will also play an active role in recruiting and relationship development while helping connect Mizzou Wrestling with alumni, supporters, donors and the business community.
Drawing on more than three decades of business and entrepreneurial experience, Vargas will focus on expanding resources, strengthening relationships, supporting student-athletes and helping position Mizzou Wrestling for sustained success on and off the mat.
Vargas and his wife, Jean, have known each other since middle school and have been married since 2003. They are the parents of 16-year-old twin sons, Wyatt and Mason, who share the family’s passion for athletics through football and wrestling. The Vargas family will relocate from Wisconsin to Columbia as they begin their next chapter with Mizzou Wrestling.
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