Paul Reid, who has spent the past three years shepherding Alfred State’s team through its transition period to Division III, has been named the head wrestling coach for Ohio Wesleyan’s reborn program. The Battling Bishops last competed in wrestling in the 1984 season and are set to take the mats again for 2018-2019. Alfred State competed in the NCWA during Reid’s tenure and finished in 13th place at the 2017 NCW Championships. Reid also has previous coaching experience at Iowa Western Community College, Whitewater, and UNC-Pembroke.

Reid Named Ohio Wesleyan Wrestling Coach

Paul Reid, head wrestling coach at Alfred (N.Y.) State College, has been named head coach of the wrestling team at Ohio Wesleyan University, it was announced by athletics director Doug Zipp.

Reid will oversee Ohio Wesleyan’s reinstatement of wrestling to varsity status, with competition beginning in the 2018-19 academic year. The Battling Bishops last competed on the mat in the 1983-84 season.

“I’m grateful to the administration, the search committee, and Doug Zipp for this opportunity. Ohio Wesleyan’s commitment to reinstate wrestling is tremendous for the sport,” Reid said. “Ohio Wesleyan is not only committed to reinstating wrestling, but doing it the right way.

“I look forward to recruiting the right type of student-athlete into the Ohio Wesleyan program, one who is willing to come in and buy into the process and get better every day. That way, success will be not only on the mat but in all areas of life.”

At Alfred State, Reid rebuilt the wrestling program as it made the transition to NCAA Division III status. Last year, the Pioneers finished second at the National Collegiate Wrestling Association regional meet, 13th at the NCWA national championship, and sixth in the nation at the national duals. His 2015-16 team was 14th at the NCWA national championship meet and the 2014-15 Pioneers placed 27th nationally. While at Alfred State, Reid coached 3 All-Americans, including a national finalist.

Prior to Alfred State, Reid helped build the wrestling program at Iowa Western Community College as the head assistant coach beginning with the Reivers’ inaugural season in 2011-12. At Iowa Western, Reid helped the team to an eighth-place national finish at the National Junior College Athletic Association championship, and he helped coach 5 All-Americans.

Reid was an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for 2 seasons, helping the Warhawks to a pair of runner-up finishes in the rugged Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and a 29th-place finish at the NCAA Division III championship meet in 2010. While at Whitewater, Reid helped coach 3 All-Americans and 8 national qualifiers.

Reid began his collegiate coaching career as assistant wrestling coach at the University of North Carolina-Pembroke in 2008-09.

“We are delighted to have Paul lead our new wrestling program. Paul brings with him the experience of building two different programs. His passion, drive, and ‘can-do’ attitude are just what is needed to start this program,” Zipp said. “We are very excited with the experience and leadership he will offer in the recruiting process and building our wrestling program.

“Through the interview process it became very clear that Paul would be a good fit for OWU, that he had a sound grasp of the Division III mission of academics first, and that he had the work ethic and drive to be a very active recruiter.”

Reid is a 2008 graduate of Coe (Iowa) College, where he wrestled for 4 years with the Kohawks. He continued his education with a master’s degree in physical education from North Carolina-Pembroke.

Reid is a native of Fort Madison, Iowa.