Archambeau named head coach at New England College

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September 14, 2016

New England College announced the beginning of wrestling at the school last week, and today they have announced their new wrestling coach. John Archambeau, formerly the head coach at Daniel Webster College, is moving 50 miles up the road from Nashua to Henniker to become the coach at a new program for the second time in his career. Archambeau spent the past two seasons as the first coach at Daniel Webster College after previously spending two seasons as a graduate assistant at his alma mater Springfield College. New England College intends to begin competition this season.

ARCHAMBEAU NAMED HEAD WRESTLING COACH

HENNIKER, N.H. –Director of Athletics Louis Izzi is pleased to announce the hiring of John Archambeau as the program’s first head wrestling coach at New England College.

“We are very excited to have John join our coaching staff and lead our men’s wrestling program into its first season of varsity competition,” said Izzi. “His passion, vision, and knowledge of the sport are essential to successfully building our program from the ground up. I am looking forward to seeing our wrestling program grow and consistently compete at the highest level in Division III under John’s direction.”

Archambeau joins NEC after serving two seasons as head wrestling coach at Daniel Webster College in Nashua, New Hampshire. Archambeau is no stranger to the creation of a program as he was responsible for the establishment of varsity wrestling at Daniel Webster in 2014.

Prior to Daniel Webster Archambeau served two seasons as a graduate assistant for Springfield College. While at Springfield, Archambeau coached 12 all-regional wrestlers, eight national qualifiers, four All-Americans and one national champion.

“I want to thank New England College President Michele Perkins, and athletic director Lou Izzi for this great opportunity,” stated Archambeau. “The entire college campus community has been very welcoming and I look forward to doing everything I can to make this program successful from the start.”

Archambeau earned his Masters of Science degree in advance physical education licensure pedagogy and his Bachelors of Science degree in movement and sport studies both from Springfield College. As an undergraduate Archambeau was a member of the varsity wrestling program earning all-conference honors in 2010 and 2011.

New England College wrestling will be a member of the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) and will begin varsity competition this November. Members of the NEWA include, in-state opponent Plymouth State University, neighboring University of Southern Maine and Norwich University, plus 11 other institutions.

New England College adds wrestling

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September 9, 2016

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New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire, has announced plans to start a wrestling program. The release from the school says they will begin competition this season, even though they do not currently have a coach or, presumably, a recruiting class. Wrestling will be the 15th varsity sport at New England College. Read on for the press release.

NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF WRESTLING AS A VARSITY SPORT
9/9/2016 1:46pm

Henniker, N.H. – New England College Athletic Director, Lou Izzi, is pleased to announce the addition of wrestling as a varsity sport for the 2016-17 season.

“This is an exciting time for New England College and our athletic department,” states Izzi. “We have been evaluating the addition of men’s wrestling for the past year as part of our strategic plan to increase enrollment and continue to expand the geographic diversity of our student population. We now have the opportunity to launch this program as our sixteenth NCAA-sponsored sport and compete as a full member of the NEWA.”

NEC will be a member of the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) and will begin varsity competition this November. Members of the NEWA include, in-state opponent Plymouth State University, neighboring University of Southern Maine and Norwich University, plus 11 other institutions.

NEC is in the process of a hiring a full-time head coach. With the addition of wrestling, NEC will boast 15 varsity sports in competition in 2016-17 and move to 16 in 2017-18 when women’s volleyball begins varsity competition.

“On behalf of the executive board of the NEWA and all the members of the league, we are excited to welcome New England College as a full-fledged member of the conference,” stated NEWA president Scott Honecker. “It is fantastic to add another collegiate wrestling opportunity in New Hampshire where the wrestling culture is growing rapidly. We are looking forward to working hand-in-hand with the administration and the future coaching staff as they embark on this new challenge.”

Moenkedick takes over at Concordia

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August 24, 2016

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Phil Moenkedick has moved from assistant coach to head coach at Concordia College Moorhead. Matt Nagel, the previous head coach, has taken a position as an assistant coach at nearby North Dakota State University, and Moenkedick was elevated to fill the position. Moenkedick was a two time NCAA champion and three time All-American for the Cobbers and holds the school’s all time wins record. Read on for more.

Moenkedick Replaces Nagel As Coach

MOORHEAD, Minn. (8/12/16)—Concordia interim Athletic Director Rachel Bergeson announced that Phil Moenkedick has been named the new head wrestling coach. Moenkedick, who was the Cobber assistant coach, takes over for Matt Nagel who stepped down to take the position as assistant coach at North Dakota State.

Moenkedick becomes only the sixth head wrestling coach at Concordia since 1955.

“It was tough to see Matt go,” commented Bergeson. “He has done an incredible job with the program and continuing the success his father (former Cobber head coach Clay Nagel) started 10 years ago.”

Matt Nagel was with the Cobber program for eight seasons including the last three as the head coach. Nagel was named the NCAA West Region Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2016 and helped 22 Concordia wrestlers earn a spot in the NCAA National Meet. Under Nagel the Cobbers were ranked in the Top 10 of the nation all three years and finished as high as 12th at the NCAA National Meet.

Moenkedick is one of the most decorated wrestlers in Concordia history and has been the assistant coach for the Cobbers for the past two seasons. Moenkedick is a two-time NCAA national champion, three-time All-American and is the all-time wins leader in program history.

“To have a coach like Phil on staff and be able to step into the position will be a huge asset for the program,” added Bergeson. “He has been an invaluable part of the success the past two seasons and his background with Concordia makes him a terrific next step in the progression of the program.”

Moenkedick has had success at all levels of wrestling. He was a runner-up at the Minnesota State High School Meet for Perham high school and then flourished in college under the tutelage of Clay and Matt Nagel. Moenkedick went 135-10 in his four seasons at Concordia and had over 30 wins in three of his four years in maroon and gold. He won the NCAA title in 2010 and 2011 and was a three-time NCAA West Region champion.

“I am honored to be able to carry on the tradition that Clay and Matt started,” said Moenkedick. “They taught me what it was like to compete at the highest national level and I look forward to carrying on the tradition of Cobber All-Americans and high caliber student/athletes.”

In addition to his dominance on the mat, Moenkedick was also successful in the classroom where he earned Capital One Academic All-District Team honors in his junior and senior seasons and was a three-time Scholar All-American. Moenkedick carried a 3.50 grade point average over his four years at Concordia while majoring in Health and Physical Education.

Before coming back to Concordia Phil served as an assistant coach for the Perham High School wrestling program and was a teacher at the school.

Reaction to Division I Strategic Plan

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August 1, 2016

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NCAA Division I Wrestling Five Year Strategic Plan 2016-2021

A five year strategic plan for Division I wrestling was released this week at the NWCA Convention in Fort Lauderdale. In it are several proposals that would drastically change the wrestling season for Division I schools. Click the link above to see the plan as released. The document suggests beginning a three week tournament competition season at or shortly after Christmas followed by a dual meet season that culminates with a dual meet championship and the individual championship as late as the end of April. If applied only to Division I as described, this would create a difference of a month or more between the Division I schedule and the Division II, III, NAIA, and NJCAA schedules.

There are three main arguments against making this change solely for Division I wrestling and a few against changing all NCAA divisions to a new season schedule. First, the arguments against moving just Division I.

When a proposal to push back the NCAA Division I Championships is presented, one of the reasons often given is to avoid conflict with the NCAA Division I basketball championship tournament. While it is true that this tournament soaks up a great deal of media coverage, one point in wrestling’s favor is that ESPN does not have the rights to any March Madness games. Therefore, the ESPN family of networks is free to show an ever increasing amount of wrestling during the NCAA Championships as a sort of counter programming to the basketball tournament. If the NCAA Wrestling championship was moved into late April, wrestling would no longer be competing with March Madness, but would instead be up against the NBA playoffs. While the NBA playoff early round games may attract a smaller audience than March Madness, ESPN has NBA rights and broadcasts playoff games beginning the third week in April. College wrestling seems unlikely to attract a larger following if the championship finals are pushed over to ESPN2 or ESPNU because of the NBA Playoffs.
Is it wise to put Division I wrestling into a silo by itself and separate it from the rest of NCAA Wrestling? As it currently stands, all three divisions begin official practice and competition on the same day and end their seasons within two weeks of each other. This continuity allows for consistency across all three divisions and lets wrestlers from all three divisions participate in early season open tournaments. The NWCA ought to promote unity among the three divisions of the NCAA instead of promoting the idea that Division I wrestling is different or deserving of special treatment. Division I wrestling should not be presented as a sport separate from that contested by Division II and III schools.
Finally, this proposal would separate the Division I season from the Division II and III seasons in an unprecedented manner for NCAA sports. Division I seasons are often longer than Division II or III seasons in the same sport, but this change would draw a thick line between the Division I season and the season in which all other NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA teams compete. The NCAA Championships Committee may not go for this difference in seasons.

It can be frustrating when the future of the sport is discussed as if only Division I wrestling matters, but it is possible that this proposal could trickle down to Divisions II and III and result in wholesale changes to the NCAA Wrestling schedule for all teams. In that case, there is less concern about separating Division I from the other divisions, but it does create a pair of issues for Division III schools in particular.

Personnel issues – Pushing the wrestling season a month later into the spring has the potential to cause some major staffing issues for athletic trainers and equipment staff at the DIII level. If wrestling continued into April, it would require athletic training, sports information, and equipment staff support at a time when all spring sports are underway and fall sports are engaging in their non-traditional season practices. I suspect a proposal to move the Division III wrestling season back would encounter resistance from Division III Athletic Directors.
Season length and practice time – The proposal linked above is a bit unclear on the start of practice, as there is a listed date of November 1st but the calendar at the end shows practice not starting until after Thanksgiving. Any proposed season calendar that shortens the time between the start of practice and the NCAA tournament takes away practice opportunities from Division III wrestlers. Thanks to to NCAA rules, DIII teams can only practice during the official season. This is not an issue for Division I teams, as the leniency of rules about off-season practices allows greater contact between coaches and athletes, while the proliferation of USA Wrestling certified Regional Training Centers essentially allows for unrestricted year round practice at the Division I level. Lastly, beginning the competition season the week after Christmas will all but eliminate a Christmas break for wrestlers and will completely eliminate spring break for every wrestler. This will drive up costs for already strapped athletic departments.

I am sympathetic to the desire to improve the health and academic success of athletes that is the primary motivation for the change, but there may be other ways to promote this idea without making such drastic changes to the sport.

Manchester to host Midwest Regional in 2017

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July 22, 2016

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Manchester University will host the 2017 Midwest Regional this coming February. Wabash had hosted the past two years, and the tournament will stay in Indiana at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne. The top three finishers at each weight will qualify for the 2017 NCAA Championships to be held in La Crosse, Wisconsin, on March 10th and 11th.

Manchester University named Midwest Regional host

NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – Manchester University, in conjunction with the Allen County Memorial Coliseum and Visit Fort Wayne groups, has been awarded a bid to host the 2017 NCAA Division III Midwest Regional wrestling Championships.

The event is set for late February at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

“We’re very appreciative of being the host for this big event,” Director of Athletics Rick Espeset said. “It’s a great honor to have our university’s name and brand associated with this type of NCAA competition.”

“Fans should be excited for this coming (to Fort Wayne),” head coach Kevin Lake noted. “There are many athletes on participating teams that are from Fort Wayne and surrounding areas including three-time defending national champion Riley LeFever of Wabash College. It’s an incredible showcase of some of the top student-athletes in NCAA Division III all vying for a berth to the national meet.”

Visit Fort Wayne and the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum group mirrored Manchester University’s anticipation.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the NCAA DIII Wrestling Regional to Fort Wayne,” Stephanie Coleman, sports sales manager at Visit Fort Wayne, said. “Early estimates have it bringing a quarter of a million dollars in new spending to our community. We’re so fortunate to have a great collaborative relationship between Visit Fort Wayne, the Memorial Coliseum and Manchester University.”

“Our location is great for the NCAA’s tournaments,” Dan O’Connell, president and CEO of Visit Fort Wayne, admitted. “(The NCAA) was looking for a central location with a high quality venue and a member university and community interested in making the student athlete’s experience at the tournament memorable. We ‘pinned’ all three of those needs, literally.

“Fort Wayne is within a days’ drive of over 90% of the participating institutions,” he added. “We offer an outstanding venue in the Memorial Coliseum which has experience in hosting both wrestling as well as NCAA tournaments. And lastly, along with Manchester University, Visit Fort Wayne is committed to providing every wrestler with a ‘championship experience’.”

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum has played host to the 2010 NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey Midwest Regional and 2006 NCAA Division I men’s volleyball national championship as well as the 2015 and 2016 Cliff Keen National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III Duals among its signature events.

Steward resigns, Miller promoted at Loras

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June 27, 2016

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After 23 years in charge, Randy Steward has resigned as head wrestling coach at Loras College, the Dubuque, Iowa, school announced today. Steward will leave the Duhawks and head to Georgia where he will teach physical education and coach at Sonoraville High School roughly halfway between Atlanta and Chattanooga. During his time at Loras, Steward coached 56 All-Americans and six NCAA champions while earning Iowa Conference Coach of the Year honors four times. He is a recent inductee into the NWCA Division III Hall of Fame.

TJ Miller will move from associate head coach to head coach for the 2016-2017 season. Miller wrestled for his father, Hall of Fame coach Jim Miller, at Wartburg and was the 2007 NCAA Champion at 197 lbs. He was the associate head coach at Loras during the 2015-2016 season and spent the previous five seasons as head coach at Holy Cross School in New Orleans prior to his return to Iowa.

Steward Resigns as Head Wrestling Coach, Miller Named as Replacement

DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – For 23 years, Randy Steward has owned his place at the side of the mat as the head coach of the wrestling program at Loras College. Beginning in November, the Duhawks will have a new leader at the helm, but one that has stared success right in the eyes.

Loras Director of Athletics Denise Udelhofen accepted the resignation of Steward and approved the transition to promote TJ Miller as head coach on Monday.

“Randy has been a hallmark of Loras College and the wrestling program for many years. He has personally overseen the development of hundreds of student-athletes and forged success in their lives, both on and off the mat,” Udelhofen said. “I have had the pleasure of knowing Randy for over 20 years and consider him to not only be a trusted colleague, but also a dear friend. We are extremely grateful for his dedication and service to Loras and we wish him the best in his future.”

Steward’s new role brings him to Calhoun, Ga. and Sonoraville High School where he will serve as a physical education instructor and head wrestling coach.

“Some people out there may think that my time has come to retire, but that motivates me to no end and I am tickled to death to begin the final chapter of my coaching career,” Steward said. “I’ve been given the opportunity to relocate to Georgia and put my stamp on what is already a very successful program at Sonoraville High School.”

Throughout Steward’s 23 years at Loras, he coached 56 All-Americans, with the most recent being Malcolm Watson at the 2016 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships this past March. His accolades include 228 dual victories, 15 Academic All-Americans, nine top-16 national finishes and six national champions. This past season, Steward was inducted into the DeWitt Central Athletic Hall of Fame and the NWCA NCAA Division III Hall of Fame.

“Reflecting on the past 23 years here at Loras has proven to be an emotional undertaking,” Steward said. “How many people can honest get up every morning and have the opportunity to do something they love? I’ve been extremely fortunate to do just that.”

Steward was named Iowa Conference Coach of the Year and NCAA Central Region Coach of the Year in 2014 after qualifying three for nationals and winning the national championship at 285#. In total, the Iowa Conference has recognized Steward as its Coach of the Year on four occasions.

“It is the end of an era, but I want to make it clear that it is not all about me, I am just one lucky man who had a vision and a passion to build upon something very special,” Steward added. “There are so many people who have helped in one way or another to build the program, including student-athletes, parents, alumni and friends of the program.”

As a Division III student-athlete himself at Cornell College, Steward was a four-time national qualifier before graduating with a degree in physical education. He later went on to earn his master’s degree from Northwest Missouri State University.

With one season under his belt as associate head coach, Miller is eager to lead a collegiate program for the first time in his career. Prior to Loras, Miller was the head wrestling coach at Holy Cross High School in New Orleans where the Tigers won two team state championships and 14 individuals were crowned state champions.

“This move also marks the beginning of a new era with many things already in place and ready to be taken to the next level,” Steward shared. “I will be watching from afar as TJ puts his own personal spin on the program. His imminent success will be fun and exciting to see develop.”

Miller was an NCAA Division III National Champion in 2007 at 197#, finishing with a career record of 110–9. Miller was a three-time NCAA All-American and three-time Iowa Conference Champion. During his time at Wartburg, the Knights won three NCAA Division III National Championships.

“I would like to thank President Jim Collins and Director of Athletics Denise Udelhofen for their confidence in me to lead the wrestling program moving forward,” Miller said. “I will forever be grateful to Randy Steward for giving me my original opportunity, for his friendship and for his guidance. My wife and I are thrilled to be a part of the Loras College family for the years to come and are excited to take the wrestling program to the next level.”

Miller inherits a program that went 2–13 in duals a season ago, but qualified two for nationals in sophomore Michael Triplett (133#) and Watson (197#). In total, four wrestlers earned All-Conference designation, with junior Evan Weaver (141#) and freshman Quin Gilliam (285#) joining Triplett and Watson.

“This past year has been pretty special, given my induction into two hall of fames and my final All-American in Malcolm Watson,” Steward added. “I would like to thank everyone that has a connection to Loras College Wrestling. I will continue to treasure the countless relationships that I have had the pleasure of developing over the past two decades at Loras.”

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Friends of the program are invited to a celebration of Steward’s career at Loras on Saturday, July 9 inside the Alumni Campus Center Ballroom. Social hour will begin at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and speeches at 6:45 p.m. Cost is $25 per person.

Tobias promoted to head coach at Alma

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June 21, 2016

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Jeremiah Tobias has been promoted to fill the spot vacated by the recent resignation of Todd Hibbs at Alma College. Tobias has been at Alma since the program’s reinstatement in 2011. The Michigan native has spent five seasons as the associate head coach for the Scots and takes over a team that was ranked as high as sixth in the NWCA and d3wrestle.com team rankings during the 2015-2016 season. Read on for more.

Jeremiah Tobias promoted to head wrestling coach

Jun 20, 2016
Alma, Mich. – Alma College Athletic Director Steven Rackley announced today (Monday, June 20, 2016) that Jeremiah Tobias has been named the head coach of the Scots’ wrestling program. Tobias, who has served as the associate head coach since May 2011, replaces Todd Hibbs, who resigned after five years at the helm of the program. Tobias becomes the seventh head coach in the history of the program, which resumed competition in 2011 after being dormant for 27 years.

“Jeremiah has been an important part of the success that the wrestling program has had over the last five seasons and I have full confidence that he will continue to improve upon the foundation that he has helped to build,” Rackley said. “With our new training facility and the success we’ve had the past few seasons, I look forward to supporting him as he continues to build Alma College into a contender for a national title.”

Over the last five seasons, Alma College has become a consistent presence among the top-20 teams in NCAA Division III and peaked at sixth place in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) and d3wrestle.com polls during the 2015-16 season. Tobias also helped mentor three All-American wrestlers last year, marking the first time in the history of the program that the Scots had more than one student-athlete earn All-America status at the NCAA III Championships.

“It is an honor to be the next head wrestling coach for Alma College,” Tobias said. “I want to thank Coach Hibbs for preparing me for this position and Steven Rackley for giving me this opportunity. I am excited to work with the wrestlers within the program, those in the community and all future Scots. I look forward to building upon the success of the program both academically and athletically.”

As a wrestler, Tobias was a four-time Michigan High School Athletic Association champion, the seventh in state history, and finished his collegiate career at the University of Michigan as the Wolverines’ leader in both career and single-season pins.

Tobias is a 2000 graduate of Manchester High School, where he won four state championships and never lost a match after his freshman year. He earned the Dave Schultz Excellence Award for the state of Michigan in 2000, a national award taking into account excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, character, citizenship and community service.

Tobias continued his success on the mat at the University of Michigan, where he was a three-year letterwinner and set both the single-season (17) and career (57) pin records. During his time as a Wolverine, he was the champion of various college tournaments, including the Michigan State Open, Eastern Michigan Open and Cleveland State Open.

Following college, Tobias collected experience as a coach in several settings. He served as a NCAA Division I assistant coach at the University of Wyoming and as a a full-time NCAA Division II coach at Belmont Abbey College. He also has extensive experience as a private coach and clinic instructor across the eastern United States, including two years as club coach for the Port City Wrestling Club in Wilmington, N.C.

Tobias holds a bachelor’s degree in sports management and his currently pursing his master’s degree in coaching and sports administration.

He is married to Katie Tobias and the two of them have a two-year-old son, Jude.

Hibbs steps down at Alma

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June 17, 2016

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Todd Hibbs has resigned his position at Alma College in order to pursue other opportunities. Hibbs has been the head coach at Alma since the program’s reinstatement for the 2011-2012 season. The Scots had three All-Americans at the 2016 NCAA Championships and finished in 11th place overall. Hibbs accumulated a 51-29 dual meet record at Alma. Hibbs also had college coaching stops at Olivet from 2004-2008 and Michigan State. Read on for the release from Alma.

Hibbs steps down as wrestling coach
Jun 17, 2016
Alma, Mich. – Todd Hibbs, who has served as the head coach of the Alma College wrestling program since 2011, has resigned to pursue other opportunities, it was announced today (Friday, June 17, 2016) by Athletic Director Steven Rackley.

“Todd has taken our wrestling program to national prominence and has set it on a course so that we can consistently compete at a high level,” Rackley said. “I am very thankful for all that Todd has done for Alma College through the wrestling program and I wish him and his family all the best in the next chapter of their lives.”

“I am extremely thankful for all that Coach Hibbs has done for Alma College and for our student-athletes,” Alma College President Jeff Abernathy said. “He has built the wrestling program into one of the best in Division III, while insisting on excellence on and off the mats. Proud as I am of the team’s accomplishments in competition, I am prouder still of their great success as students.”

Under Hibbs’ guidance, the Scots grew into a consistent top-20 team in NCAA Division III, peaking at sixth in the nation in the National Wrestling Coaches Association and d3wrestle.com polls this past season. With Hibbs at the helm, the Scots compiled a cumulative record of 51-29 in dual meet competition while also finishing among the top 12 teams in three national events – twice at the NWCA National Duals and at the 2016 NCAA Division III Championships in March. At the 2016 NCAA meet, Alma had three All-Americans, marking the first time in the history of the program the Scots had more than one at the national championships.

“Five years ago the state of Michigan desperately needed another option for college wrestling, and Alma College stepped up to the plate,” Hibbs said. “I’m so grateful for (Alma College trustee and alumnus) Greg Hatcher’s vision of bringing wrestling back to Alma, and for President Abernathy’s support of that vision. And I cannot thank (Associate Head Coach) Jeremiah Tobias and (Assistant Coach) Fletcher Roberts enough for their tireless work in building this program. Our families are linked forever as Scots.”

According to Hibbs, the breakthrough moment for the program came in January 2013 when the Scots posted a 16-15 win over ninth-ranked Olivet College at Art Smith Arena. After falling to the Comets by a 49-0 margin the previous year, Alma came back in its second season to upset the top-10 program and continue a home winning streak that has lasted four years.

In addition to the success on the mat, Alma has become one of the elite programs academically, as the Scots were recognized three times by the NWCA with a team grade-point average of 3.5 or higher. Over the past five seasons, 21 Scots have been named Scholar All-Americans by the NWCA, including eight in the 2014-15 season, the most across all NCAA divisions.

Hibbs also worked with the Alma College Advancement Office to raise nearly $4 million for a new addition to the Hogan Center, which will open later this summer. The project includes a wrestling room, a new weight room, new coaching offices, a coaching locker room, a team locker room, and a new studio for the Scots’ cheerleading and STUNT team.

Hibbs served as a member of the NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee while he was coaching the Scots and is currently a student in the Ph.D. program for Higher Education Leadership at Central Michigan University with a research focus on first-generation college students. According to the NCAA, wrestling has a higher percentage (37 percent) of first-generation students than any other NCAA-sponsored sport.

Brennan Ryan returns to Mount St. Joseph

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June 15, 2016

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Brennan Ryan will return to Mount St. Joseph as head coach, the school in Cincinnati announced yesterday. Ryan had previously been on staff as an assistant coach from 2007-2011. He comes to the Lions from Mason High School where he was an assistant the past two seasons, and has accumulated over 100 dual meet wins as a high school head coach in his career.

Ryan has a big job ahead of him as he takes over a Mount St. Joseph team that had just four wrestlers on the roster at the end of last season and was without a coach from March 29 until this week. Also, the school’s athletics website did not publish a story or match recap during the 2015-2016 season.

In addition to his coaching duties, Ryan is the owner of 513 Promo and Ryco Sportswear and is a actor/model with the Heyman Talent Agency. Keep reading for the release from Mount St. Joseph.

Mount St. Joseph wrestling names former assistant Brennan Ryan head coach

Brennan Ryan, an accomplished coach at the high school and collegiate levels, has been named the Mount St. Joseph University head wrestling coach, Athletic director Steve Radcliffe announced today.

Ryan was the assistant wrestling coach at Mason High School for the past two seasons, where they compiled a dual record of 40-3. Mason also won the GMC Championship in wrestling both years Ryan was there and finished as the Division I City Poll Champions once.

He has also coached wrestling at Lakota West High School, Madeira High School, and Roger Bacon High School.

Ryan was the assistant coach at Mount St. Joseph from 2007-2011, which were some of the best years in the program’s history. During his stint as the assistant coach at Mount St. Joseph, the program won 4 HCAC conference titles, finished in the top 5 at the NCAA Regionals 4 times, had 2 NCAA national qualifiers, had an individual NCAA runner-up, and had 4 Academic All-Americans.

He was also honored following the 2009-10 season when he was voted the NCAA Mid-States Conference Assistant Coach of the Year.

“I am excited to be returning to MSJ after being away for 5 years,” Ryan said. “To have the opportunity to be a head coach at the college level is a very humbling honor. This program has a rich tradition over the last couple of decades, and with that comes a responsibility to work to bring the program back to being able to compete on a national level on a consistent basis.”

Coach Ryan has several other coaching accolades and experience that should help him turn around a program that has struggled with roster numbers and winning in the past few seasons. When he took over the program at Lakota West the Firebirds were coming off of a 1-win season. In just his first year at West he helped Lakota West find their way back into the local Top 10.

“There is a strong connection between Coach Ryan and the alumni in the area, many of whom are involved in youth and high school wrestling programs, which will be important as we rebuild the program through the recruitment process,” Radcliffe said.

Ryan has also racked up 3 GCL North Wrestling Coach of the Year Awards, 2 SWOWCA Division II Wrestling Coach of the Year Awards, and 100 dual wins as a head coach. In 2006 he was honored by being named as the SWOWCA Wrestling All-Star Meet coach.

“This area has a wealth of wrestling talent that we hope to keep home to wrestle at the college level,” Ryan said. “There are a ton of wrestling alumni that are coaching in the area at high schools and clubs, and they want to see this program succeed. With their support I think this program can take back off pretty quickly.”

Ice Hour 11: LeRoy Gardner

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June 15, 2016

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On Episode 11 of The Ice Hour, a Division III wrestling podcast, we’ll catch up with the new head wrestling coach at the University of the Ozarks, LeRoy Gardner.

A three-time All-American at Wartburg and a 2003 NCAA Division III champion at heavyweight, Gardner previously coached at the U.S. Naval Academy Prep School in Rhode Island and the club program at the University of Houston-Downtown.

Garnder’s backstory involves discovering wrestling late, never placing at the Minnesota state tournament, making a Junior World team in Greco-Roman, a tour of duty in Afghanistan and marrying an accomplished judoka from Uzbekistan.

It’s a great background story, for sure.

The Ice Hour is proudly sponsored by My House Sports Gear.

Academic All-Americans Announced

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June 7, 2016

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Seven Division III wrestlers have been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America teams, it was announced today. Wrestling is represented on the At-Large team along with several other sports. One wrestler made the first team, four made the second team, and two made the third team. The honored wrestlers are listed below

CoSIDA Full Release of Academic All-America Teams

First Team
Riley Lefever, Wabash, 3.45 GPA in English, 3x NCAA Champion

Second Team
Brandon Conrad, Lycoming, 3.95 GPA in Chemistry, 6th at Mideast Region
Daniel Del Gallo, Southern Maine, 4.0 in Philosophy/Sociology, NCAA Qualifier
Jesse Gunter, Baldwin Wallace, 3.45 in Business Administration, 5th NCAA Championships
Drew Van Anrooy, Luther, 3.4 in Biology, NCAA Champion

Third Team
Lance Evans, Wartburg, 3.77 in Pre-Veterinary, 3rd NCAA Championships
Ben Swarr, Messiah, 3.66 in English, NCAA Champion

DIII at University Nationals

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June 6, 2016

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Riley Lefever w/ Coach Reece by his side finished his day w/ a fall to finish 5th @ University Nationals #BashNation pic.twitter.com/u5edNFhQtf

— Wabash Wrestling (@wabashwrestling) June 5, 2016

There were several DIII wrestlers competing at the University Nationals this past weekend in Akron, Ohio. The group was headlined by Riley Lefever of Wabash. The three time NCAA champion finished 5th at 86kg. Other DIII wrestlers that competed in freestylet are listed below. Comment on this post with others that may have been missed or any who competed in greco.

Reece Lefever, Wabash (2015), 3-2 at 74kg
Mark Maldonado, Wabash, 0-2 at 80kg
Alexander Dague, Wabash, 0-2 at 80kg
Connor Brummett, Wabash, 1-2 at 80kg
Mason Baumgartner, Concordia Wisconsin, 2-2 at 97kg
Jordan Neman, Whitewater (2015), 1-2 at 86kg
Elroy Perkin, Whitewater (2015), 2-2 at 70kg
Fletcher Green, Coe, 0-2 at 61kg
Brady Ruden, Coe, 0-2 at 65kg
Romello Hidalgo, Coe, 1-2 at 74kg
Jake Voss, Coe, 1-2 at 80kg
Garrett Kelson, Coe, 0-2 at 86kg
Andrew Holladay, Coe, 0-2 at 97kg
Anthony Munoz, Elmhurst, 1-2 at 61kg
Sean Ward, La Crosse, 1-2 at 97kg
Jordan Burkholder, Muskingum, 0-2 at 57kg
Donny Didion, Otterbein, 0-2 at 74kg
Ryan Shank, Waynesburg, 1-2 at 80kg
Tristan Buxton, Waynesburg, 0-2 at 57kg
Jake Evans, Waynesburg, 2-2 at 125kg

Alum Josh Malave returns to Mount Union as next head coach

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June 2, 2016

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Josh Malave, a 2012 graduate of the school, has been named the ninth head wrestling coach in Mount Union history. He takes the reigns from Bill Schindel who recently left to become the head coach at Adrian College. Malave has spent the past two seasons as the head coach at Firelands High School in Oberlin, Ohio. He was a two time NCAA qualifier for the Purple Raiders and placed 7th at 141 lbs. at the 2012 NCAA Championships. Mount Union was 12-9 last year and finished 9th at the Mideast Region. Read on for more.

Josh Malave Named Head Wrestling Coach at Mount Union

Jun 02, 2016

Josh Malave has been named head wrestling coach at the University of Mount Union.

“We are confident that the hard work and dedication to wrestling Josh has shown so far in his career will give him the ability to motivate our student-athletes,” commented athletic director Larry Kehres.

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LeRoy Gardner takes over Ozarks

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June 2, 2016

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The University of the Ozarks announced today that LeRoy Gardner would be taking over for Jason Zastrow as head wrestling coach. Gardner was a national champion for Wartburg and most recently was coaching the NCWA program at the University of Houston-Downtown since 2014. Gardner was a 2003 graduate of Wartburg and has also coached at his alma mater and the Navy Academy Prep School. The school will embark on its third season of wrestling in 2016-2017. Read on for more.

Hall of Fame Wrestler To Lead Wrestling Program

Jun 02, 2016

Clarksville, Ark.-Collegiate Hall of Fame wrestler LeRoy Gardner III has been named the new head men’s wrestling coach at the University of the Ozarks, it was announced Thursday by Athletics Director Jimmy Clark.

Gardner, a native of Golden Valley, Minn., has been the head coach at University of Houston-Downtown since 2014, where he was named the 2016 National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) Southwest Conference Coach of the Year. There, he coached the university’s first All-American and Academic All-American. Prior to UH-Downtown, Gardner coached at the United States Naval Academy Preparatory School and Wartburg College. He wrestled at Wartburg where he was a three-time All-American and led his team to a pair of national championships. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2010.

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Wilkes grad assistant opening

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June 1, 2016

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POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT – GRADUATE ASSISTANT WRESTLING

Wilkes University invites applicants for a graduate assistant position in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics in Wrestling, beginning August 2016.

The primary responsibility is to assist the head coach in all facets of the program, including the recruitment of quality student athletes, organization and planning of practices, match preparation, administrative tasks, scouting, team fundraising and monitoring student athlete academic progress.

A Bachelor’s degree is required. Previous participation and/or coaching experience are preferred. This position includes a stipend and tuition remission.

Send a letter of application and the names of three references to: Jon Laudenslager, Head Coach, Wilkes University, 84 West South Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 or respond via email to jonathan.laudenslager@wilkes.edu.

Wilkes University is an independent, comprehensive university dedicated to academic excellence in the liberal arts, sciences, and selected professional programs. The University has approximately 2000 students at the undergraduate level and over 2,000 full time equivalent students at the graduate and first professional levels.

Its institutional focus is on developing strong mentoring relationships with each of its students and contributing vitally to economic development of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The University is located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a revitalized city that is located on the lovely Susquehanna River and is within two and one-half hours driving distance of New York City and Philadelphia.

Wilkes University is constantly seeking to become a more diverse community and to enhance its capacity to value and capitalize on the cultural richness that diversity brings. The University strongly encourages applications from persons with diverse backgrounds.

Lycoming full time assistant position

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May 26, 2016

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ASSISTANT WRESTLING COACH

The Department of Athletics at Lycoming College is seeking applications for a full-time, 10-month, benefits-eligible Assistant Wrestling Coach. This position will be responsible for assisting the Head Wrestling Coach with the day to day functions of the Wrestling team. Specific responsibilities include recruiting, developing practice plans, practice instruction, video analysis, strength training, setup of mats and clocks for home events, assisting in fundraising activities, and participation in activities to promote the wrestling program.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE and QUALIFICATIONS: High school diploma required; bachelor’s degree preferred; competitive wrestling and/or coaching experience at the college level required. Successful candidate must be well-organized; have excellent interpersonal skills in dealing with prospective student-athletes, student-athletes, staff and College personnel. Candidates must be attentive to details, have the ability to lead, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. Candidate must display a commitment for adhering to all Lycoming College, NCAA and MAC policies, rules and regulations. Valid driver’s license with good driving record required.

TO APPLY: Submit cover letter including salary requirement and resume including the names and telephone numbers of three professional references. Electronic submission of application materials is required to jobs@lycoming.edu. Please reference “Assistant Wrestling Coach” in the subject line of the email.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Pre-employment drug screen, motor vehicle record check and criminal background check conducted. EOE

Ice Hour Episode 10: Joe Rau

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May 23, 2016

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This episode was released on May 13th.

Subscribe to this show via: iTunes | Android | RSS

Episode 10 of The Ice Hour talks with 2013 Elmhurst graduate and Division III champion Joe Rau.

Rau’s not exactly a rags-to-riches story, but only a one-time state qualifier in Illinois in high school, he moved on to nearby Elmhurst College, where he earned three All-American medals including a national championship. Just one year removed from college, Rau made the U.S. World Team in Greco-Roman and recently won the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at 98kg. Unfortunately, Rau missed out on qualifying for the Olympic Games. He talks about the struggles in defeat after a heartbreaking junior season and an even tougher shot at Olympic qualification.

The Ice Hour is proudly sponsored by My House Sports Gear.

Schindel to lead Adrian

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May 18, 2016

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After it was reported yesterday that Bill Schindel was leaving Mount Union, it was later reported that he had taken the head men’s and women’s coach position at Adrian College. Adrian will embark on their second season as a resurrected program next year. The previous head coach, Chris Williams, left the school to return to Michigan State as an assistant. Schindel takes over a program that was 7-3 last year and placed 10th in the Midwest Regional. Freshman Angus Arthur placed 4th at 197 lbs. at the NCAA Championships.

Successful Mount Union Head Coach Bill Schindel Selected to Lead Bulldogs Wrestling Program

Bill Schindel resigns from Mount Union

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May 17, 2016

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University of Mount Union head coach Bill Schindel has resigned his position, the school reported yesterday. Schindel had been the head coach at his alma mater for the past four seasons, leading the Purple Raiders to two OAC championships and three runner-up finishes at the Mideast Region.

Schindel was a three time All-American at Mount Union and spent one year as an assistant coach at the school before taking the top position when Mark Hawald departed in 2012.

Bill Schindel Resigns as Head Wrestling Coach

UW-La Crosse GA Position

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May 16, 2016

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The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has an open coaching position for a graduate assistant in physical education. Interested applicants can read the links below and should also contact head coach Dave Malecek for more information.

Graduate Assistant Description and Application Info

Description of UWL Graduate PET program

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