meet the coaches
Sergio López
Head Coach
Sergio brings over 15 years of grappling experience in both wrestling and jiu-jitsu competition.
He grew up wrestling in Illinois and is a graduate of Elmhurst University, where he was a member of the 2013 Hall of Fame Team, that finished the season as the Runner-Up at the NCAA Division III National Championships.
He is a veteran of multiple Jiu-Jitsu promotions such as Midwest Finishers, Summit Grappling Championships, and Combat Sports Coverage, amongst others streaming on FloGrappling.
When he's not at EGC, Sergio can be found either training at 10th Planet Greenville under Manny Vazquez, traveling & coaching at tournaments, or spending time with his wife, family, and his dog Cielo.
Liam McKinney
Assistant Wrestling Coach
Liam has been a dedicated wrestler since 2011, becoming a two-time SCHSL 3A state finalist and 2017 state champion. He finished high school with an undefeated senior season at Powdersville High, going 55-0 and achieving a career record of 139-28, which earned him a spot on the South Carolina North/South All-Star team.
Liam then wrestled at Limestone College before transitioning to mixed martial arts in 2020. In 2024, he decided to return to his roots and began training Jiu-Jitsu full-time. In March 2025, Liam earned his blue belt in Jiu-Jitsu under Sergio Lopez of EGC.
nick cowart
Assistant Jiu Jitsu Coach
Nick started training jiu jitsu in 2022 and quickly began competing all over the southeast. He has traveled nationwide helping direct Jiu Jitsu tournaments and events.
In 2025 he began teaching fundamentals classes at Easley Grappling Club. He takes an active role in training, competing, and coaching. He was promoted to a purple belt by Sergio Lopez in December of 2025.