The d3wrestle.com Coach of the Year for the 2010-2011 season is Mark Hawald of Mount Union. Since taking the job before the 2007-2008 season, the John Carroll graduate has taken the team from a 3-13 record and 6th place finish in the OAC to a 14-0 record and OAC championship in 2011, the team’s first since 1997. Additionally, the Purple Raiders finished tied for 8th at the NCAA tournament, matching the program’s best ever finish. Bill Schindel led the team by finishing 3rd at 197 and becoming just the second 3x All-American in school History. Derick Hesson finished 5th at 285 and Riki Reynolds finished 6th at 125, while Josh Malave and Andy Jenkins qualified at 141 and 184, respectively. Other highlights of the 2010-2011 season included a runner-up finish at the Messiah Petrofes tournament and a 5th place finish at the Pete Willson Wheaton Inviational, second best of the DIII teams entered in the event.
In addition to success on the mat, the Mount Union team had to deal with adversity as well. While returning from a victory at Ohio Northern in January, the Mount Union bus was involved in an accident with a snow plow near Bucyrus, Ohio which you can find out here. While four passengers sustained minor injuries, Mount Union Head Athletic Trainer Daniel Gorman was killed. After the tragedy, Hawald rallied his team and penned an open letter to the wrestling community reacting to the event. The team returned to action the following week and was able to remain focused and win the OAC title.
Hawald is a 2005 graduate of John Carroll University where he was a four time OAC champion and 2004 NCAA Division III All-American at 174 lbs. He is the all time wins leader at John Carroll and was awarded the Clyde Lamb Award as the institution’s top male student-athlete. He was also recognized in 2009 and 2011 as the OAC Coach of the Year.
Actually, Jason Miller from Heidelberg was the OAC Coach of the Year in 2009.
Miller and Hawald shared the award: http://www.muskingum.edu/home/athletics/wrestling/OACWrestlingChampionships09.html
Great choice. He has made huge strides with that program. Very impressive.
Interesting choice as “Coach of the Year”. Hard to argue with the adversity that the team faced this year, but I’d like to see them wrestle a tougher schedule. I’d have lobbied for either the coach at Ithica and St. John’s to be at the top of this list.
TR, you’re a douchebag. i’d like to see you coach an undefeated season after adversity like Mount Union faced this year. Do not take away from someone who is more than deserving of the award!!
Jim Churchill – you stay classy! I stated an opinion, one you clearly disagree with. Show me some facts, and I am open to your ideas. I agree that the Mount Union team faced some adversity this year with the bus accident. I also agree that the program had a nice year. Mount Union finished tied for 8th, had 3 AA’s, and beat one team that finished in the top 20 at Nationals (Ohio Northern). An argument could and should be made for the best team in the country, Wartburg with 7 AA’s, and a dominating season. Their only loss was on a slam against St. John’s. My argument is if you are going to skip the usual suspects (Wartburg, Augsburg and LaCrosse) Then, I’d go with Ithaca or St. John’s. Ithaca finished 4th, had 4 AA’s, posted wins over 4 top 20 teams (St. John’s, Centenary, Cortland, Delaware Valley). St. John’s finished 6th, had 5 AA’s, posted wins over 6 top 20 teams (Wartburg, LaCrosse, Coe, Concordia, St. Olaf, Delaware Valley).
no opposing argument is needed, you’re someone who is trying to take credit away from someone. that is sad
Well deserved. It’s refreshing to see a decision based on more than just a national tournament result as people such as TR lobby to see. Its sad that far too often how “well” we coach these young men is measured by our wins and loses. A true coach is far more than that. He is a mentor on and off the mat. Leading his team through the traumatic event they experienced the way coach Hawald did demonstrates the characteristics of a man I would want coaching my sons. On top of that, the improvement this team has shown in the short time since Hawald took the helm speaks volumes in itself. Then if you want to look specifically at results this year, look at the nwca #8 rankings (not the final rankings which take into account only individuals, not teams, ex: Case Western). Mount Union defeated #13 Wilkes and #14 ONU in duals. While finishing ahead of 11 of the other top 30 teams in tournaments throughout the year. (If you go with your argument on top 20 teams at nationals that list includes Elmhurst, Dubuque, ONU, Cornell, and Trine.) Not to mention he guided them to an all scholar team award. I could go on and on. I applaud you d3.com for not being blinded like TR and looking at the big picture. Great selection and congrats Coach Hawald on an award well deserved.
Great article . I feel exactly the way coach D feels It is wonderful that Coach Hawald has an all scholastic team, Indicates the
academic as well as dedicated young men on this team
I would certainly send my son to this school and want Coach Hawald as his mentor
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