Why hire a new head coach in May: The Lindenwood situation
In May, Lindenwood University—Belleville announced plans to eliminate most undergraduate programs at the conclusion of the 2019-20 academic school year, citing ongoing financial issues.
The idea was that LU-Belleville’s sister program, Lindenwood University, would absorb undergraduate transfers. Initial statements indicated the full continuation of athletic programs through 2020 with the exception of swimming and ice hockey.
Separately announced was the promotion of Graham Karwath to the position of head men’s and women’s wrestling coach; Karwath was tasked with recruiting and leading both programs through the sport’s final year in Belleville.
Several weeks ago, coach Karwath and the women’s wrestling team were notified the program would be discontinued immediately. Women wanting to compete this year would be required to transfer to the St. Charles location or find another home. If remaining at either LU location, scholarships will remain intact.
So why hire a new head coach at the Belleville location in May only to announce a last-minute consolidation to St. Charles at the end of July?
It turns out that on the St. Charles campus, Andrey Rodriguez resigned from her position as head coach mid-summer.
Administration found the future of the St. Charles program coach-less, with the tail end of the Belleville location sporting a new head coach with just one season of competition left.
Tom Wagganer, LU’s Senior Associate Athletic Director, said, “Instead of splitting our resources, we decided it would be the perfect opportunity to consolidate the programs right now, with a more focused investment in a long-term coach to take our program into the future . . . we are excited to move forward with the team as a stronger unit, together, rather than dispersed at sister schools waiting for an inevitable junction just a year down the road”.
Lindenwood University is thrilled to announce the hiring of Mike Mena to lead the newly combined Lindenwood University programs. Mena has 18 years of collegiate coaching experience. Among many accomplishments, he was four-time NCAA Division I All-American at the University of Iowa.
Coach Mena stated, “I’m honored to serve as head women’s wrestling coach at Lindenwood University. I’d like to thank Coach Rollins, Senior Associate Athletic Director Tom Wagganer, and Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Brad Wachler for this wonderful opportunity and for believing in me. I look forward to leading the program forward as an emerging sport at the intercollegiate level.”
The LU administration is excited about the freestyle, coaching and recruiting experience Mena brings with him to St. Charles. “Mike has a tremendous wealth of knowledge at all levels and in many different aspects of the sport”. Wagganer said that during his interview, Mena mentioned he’s noticed more and more girls joining at a younger age—maybe even more so than boys.
Wagganer said they are paying close attention to ongoing discussions regarding the NCAA status of women’s wrestling. “We’ve set ourselves up with a solid foundation to build with . . . we’ve made the transition and now it’s time to capitalize on all these opportunities as we sit down to figure out the structure moving forward”.
Coach Mena is working to release a finalized competition schedule for the Lions 2019-20 season.
Lindenwood University is one of six collegiate women’s wrestling programs in the state of Missouri alongside Fontbonne University, Westminster College, Central Methodist College, Missouri Baptist University and Missouri Valley College. Missouri sanctioned girls wrestling in 2019.
