2019-20 returning programs with new head coaches in the WCWA, NAIA
You know what’s really powerful? Energy and enthusiasm paired with authenticity and the right patterns to actualize potential.
Coaching changes are new opportunities—for the coaches and the programs they are working to develop moving forward.
Athletic administrators go through the process of identifying individuals that fit their institutions mission while being leaders to the athletes in their sport. When the interviewer and interviewee get it right, athletic programs can absolutely flourish.
Here’s a quick look at some coaches & programs that get to use the guise of change to kickstart the season.
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University welcomes back alumna Nicole Tyson (Woody) for her first year as the Stars Head Coach. Tyson was most recently an assistant at Campbellsville University, where she helped lead the team to their first WCWA title. She also has experience as an assistant coach at King University, and as a graduate assistant at Missouri Baptist University. All three programs she’s worked with have been under the direction of consistent leadership from head coaches to learn from. As a WCWA athlete, Tyson was a four-time All-American, three-time finalist and individual champion in 2011. She was part of the OCU squad during three of their four consecutive wins as WCWA National team champions, from 2009-12.
Ferrum College
Another big move, Ferrum College picked up a four-time WCWA All-American, now Head Coach Breonnah Neal. Neal is a graduate of King University where she went undefeated her senior year, claiming the status of individual WCWA champion in 2017 with a 21-0 record. Neal was most recently an assistant coach at West Forsyth High School in North Carolina, and also worked as an assistant coach at the School of Hard Knocks Wrestling Club. Neal’s alma mater, King University followed up OCU’s run as team champions with 4 titles of their own, winning from 2013-16; Neal was on three of four teams.
Eastern Oregon University
Head Coach Michael Ayala brings his experience to EOU this year. While it’s his first official year as a head coach, he actually filled in as the interim head coach at the University of Providence during the first half of the 2018-19 season, signing 14 women to the team. He got just a taste of what it could be like to build a program with his vision and knew that the search for a head coaching position would be next. When asked about fit, Ayala says the EOU administration is supportive of women’s wrestling as a standalone sport from the men’s program, the ladies have their heads on straight and, bonus, the school is in a great location.
A little bit lengthy, maybe, but Ayala’s why: he was raised by a single mother in Illinois that showed him exactly what it meant to show up, and now he’s in a position to give back by supporting a subset of women in the wrestling community that he gets to help graduate with an ability to navigate the world as strong and independent women ready to take on the world. I’ll tell ya, wrestling is always more than wrestling.
Grays Harbor College
Sometimes it’s all about timing and connections when finding the right fit. After some quick turnover in the coaching staff for the last two years, Grays Harbor College has hired now Head Coach Kevin Pine to lead the women’s wrestling program, where he’ll get to coach right alongside his brother leading the men’s program. Coach Pine brings a wealth of experience from the youth to collegiate level with him to GHC. Most recently, Pine coached at Palo Verde High School in Nevada for eleven years and was also part of the 2015-19 Nevada National Team coaching staff. A 1988 Canadian National Greco champion, Pine as experience in freestyle, greco & folkstyle.
Southern Oregon University
The SOU Raider administration collaborated to choose experienced in-house talent to lead the women’s program by selecting now Head Coach Joel Gibson. Gibson has served eight years on the men’s staff at SOU and was also the head coach at Phoenix High School from 2014-16. He joined the Oregon Women’s Cadet and Junior National Teams in 2019 as well. As an athlete, Gibson wrestled at Oregon State University where he received his undergraduate degree and Southern Oregon University during the 2006-07 season where he placed 7th at the NAIA National Championships.
Midland University
Midland University is one of the most tenured programs on this list, and they’re about to get a fresh perspective on the coaching staff. Head Coach Mat Atwood steps up after serving as the women’s assistant during the 2018-19 season. Prior to his experience on the women’s side, Atwood was a volunteer assistant coach at both Concordia University (2017-18) and Colby Community College (2016-17). As an athlete, Atwood won a Great Plains Athletic Conference title at Concordia University and a Kansas State title while part of three Kansas State Championship teams.
Tiffin University
Head Coach Nick Goebel is back on home turf in Ohio as he starts his first position as Head Coach for the Tiffin University Dragons. Goebel has experience coaching women wrestles as the assistant coach for King University (2018-19). He was also a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach at his alma mater, University of Findlay. Goebel was a three-time All-American for Findlay, finishing third, twice, and fourth at the NCAA National Championships.
Brewton-Parker College
Brewton-Parker College will see Brittney Gadd as the new Head Coach this season. Gadd wrestled for the University of the Cumberlands where she was a two-time WCWA All-American. She studied exercise science and public administration and has a masters in special education. Gadd was most recently the head coach at Tiffin University, in Ohio.
Lakeland University and Lindenwood University still have open positions for head coaches at their respective programs.
Many of the existing programs are still quite young, so, these changes in staff are huge opportunities for incoming coaches to analyze a programs culture and build anew without too much pushback. Fans should be excited to watch these individuals play their hands in the ambiguous battlefield that is women’s wrestling.
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