Spence returns to Mount St. Joseph – updated

Elliott Spence has been named the head wrestling coach at Mount St. Joseph University, according to a post on his Facebook page and a subsequent Intermat article. The Cincinnati native was an All-American for the Lions and replaces Brennan Ryan who held the reins for the 2016-2017 season. Mount St. Joseph took this past season off from competition as they attempt to rebuilt the program. That task will now fall to Spence as the Lions again take the mat in 2017-2018. This post will be updated once an official announcement is made by the school.

Update 6/30 – Story from Mount St. Joseph

Mount alum tabbed to take over wrestling program

Jun 29, 2017
CINCINNATI, Ohio– Mount St. Joseph University Director of Athletics Steve Radcliffe has named Elliott Spence as the new Head Coach of the Lions wrestling program.

Elliott Spence will replace Brennan Ryan as the leader of the Lions wrestling program. Spence is a 2004 graduate of Elder High School where he qualified for the Ohio State high school championship tournament three-times, placing in each of his three appearances. After his stellar high school career Spence decided to stay close to home and wrestle for The Mount. His career at the Mount was a stellar one, as he was a three time NCAA All-American. Placing eighth in the nation in both 2006 and 2007 at 157 pounds. In his senior year Elliott was the national runner up at 149 pounds. He was also a stellar student being selected twice by the NWCA (National Wrestling Coaches Association) Academic All-American.

After graduating from The Mount, he immediately began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Delaware Valley University. In his time at Delaware Valley Spence coached seven NCAA All-Americans and helped the team to two top 10 team finishes. For his efforts he was named the NCAA Midwest Regional Assistant Coach of the Year in 2010.

After leaving Delaware Valley, he returned home to Cincinnati. Returning to the Elder program, taking over as the head coach at West Cincinnati Wrestling Club at Elder Junior High School, where he has been since 2012.

In an interview with intermatwrestle.com Spence said, “I am excited to take over the Mount St. Joseph wrestling program, I grew up a mile from the Mount and can remember going to their camps as a youth wrestler, and never thought that one day i would have the opportunity to lead the program.”

He went on to say, “Mount St. Joseph was once one of the best wrestling programs in the country and has a deep supportive alumni base. One of the first things I plan to do, besides recruit, is to get the alumni involved in the program. The Mount has wrestling alumni are coaching at high schools all over Cincinnati. A lot of them were a part of the program when the Mount was regularly sending wrestlers to nationals and they were returning as All-Americans. Those days will return in the near future.

Mount St. Joseph Director of Athletics Steve Radliffe had this to say about the hiring, “We are very excited to have Coach Spence return to the Mount and our wrestling program. When you combine his passion for the sport and the personal success he had as a wrestler here, I beleive he can provide young wrestlers a high level of coaching and leadership. The future of the Mount wrestling program is in extremely good hands.”

Please join us in welcoming Elliott back home to The Mount!