Erikson, 50, has more than 25-years of coaching experience at a variety of levels, demonstrating the proficiency in developing athletes to the status of national-level competitors.
He has spent 13 years (1999-2012) at Purdue as an assistant coach at the main campus in West Lafayette, Indiana, working extensively in the physical and mental development of a number of All-Americans and Honorable Mention All-Americans.
Erikson has been on the U.S.A. Wrestling national staff since 2013, working as the head coach of the National Team, which represented the United States in the Medved Cup in Minsk, Belarus. During that time he was also coach of Team U.S.A. in an exhibition dual, competing against Team India in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 2014.
He made time to serve as an assistant wrestling coach since 2012 at Hamilton Heights High School in Arcadia, Indiana.
Erikson has served as team leader of Team Indiana (2004-present), was a club coach at River City Wrestling Club (2000-07) in West Lafayette, and was vice chair of ticket sales, marketing and promotion for the 2004 Olympic Wrestling Team Trials in 2002-04.
"We're excited about the kind of coaching and stability that Coach Erikson brings to our programs here at Lyon," Jenkins stated. "He has experience on a variety of levels and knows the kind of student-athletes we're looking for here."
A graduate of Bloom High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois, Erikson then attended Triton College in River Grove, Illinois, where he received his Associate of Arts degree. He went on to attend Oklahoma State and then later graduated from Western Governors University, with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Marketing and Management.
Erikson, who is in the Bloom High School Athletics Hall of Fame ('86), the Illinois Wrestling and Officials Association Hall of Fame ('96), the National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame ('96), the Midlands' Hall of Fame ('04) and the Indiana Wrestling and Officials Association Hall of Fame ('10), was an U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team alternate in 1988, 1992 and 1996, a two-time NJCAA National Champion at Triton College (1984 & 1985), a member of the All-Big 8 Academic Team in 1986 and a NCAA Wrestling All-American at OSU in 1986 and 1987.
He feels Lyon is the right place at the right time for him and is excited about continuing the growth of the young wrestling programs.
"(Lyon is) a small school and a family atmosphere and a beautiful campus; what more could a coach ask for," Erikson said Wednesday. "I'm looking for a college that I can build a legacy and a strong wrestling program that will eventually be on the national map. The Lyon women's team was ranked in the Top 25 this past year and there's no reason to not believe the men's program couldn't be right there in the next two years.
"I know what it's like to compete in collegiate wrestling. I've coached some of the best collegiate wrestlers and I've learned from some great coaches in my years at Purdue."
An added incentive for the Lyon men's program is the fact that Lyon will join Missouri Baptist University, Williams Baptist College, Hannibal-LaGrange University, Lindenwood University-Belleville and conference newcomer Central Baptist College for the first-ever AMC men's wrestling team title in 2015-16.
Erikson believes that being a part of a young growing program at Lyon -- which will enter its second season in both men and women in 2015-16 -- can be both a challenge and a benefit.
"Coming in on the ground floor has its challenges, but it also means I can build and mold these programs the way I want to," he continued. "My goal is to bring in kids that are true student-athletes, which means they are here to be outstanding students first, and then outstanding wrestlers. I want them to be proud Lyon College graduates by the time their careers are over here."
Erikson hopes to build relationships with other wrestling professionals in the Arkansas and surrounding states like he did in Indiana. He also says he plans on using the established relationships he has built in the Midwest to expand the Lyon programs.
The Lyon women's program has two freshmen WCWA All-Americans returning in Jazmin Perez (FR/West Covina, Calif.) and Jesse Grubbs (FR/Azle, Texas). The Scot women were 6-12 in their first year of competition. The Lyon programs return 17 lettermen from a year ago, in which all are going to be sophomores.
Erikson and his wife, Randi, have two children, a 24-year old son, Bowdi, and a 14-year old daughter, Jadlynn.
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