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    Fergola appointed interim head coach at Dana

    Dana College is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Fergola as interim head wrestling coach for the 2006 NAIA National Champion Dana Vikings. Fergola will become Dana's seventh head wrestling coach in its storied history dating back to the start in 1960.

    "I am confident that Coach Fergola is going to help us continue the national prominence we have built in NAIA wrestling over the last several years," said Athletic Director Bill Danenhauer. "He was a key component in the teams that finished fifth at Nationals in 2005 and first in 2006."

    Fergola has served as head assistant coach at Dana since 2004. He previously coached junior college wrestling at Neosho County Community College in Kansas. In two years at NCCC, he coached nine NJCAA All-Americans and helped lead the Panthers to two top ten finishes.

    Since Fergola's arrival at Dana College, the Vikings have produced the No. 4 and No. 1 Non-Division I recruiting classes in the country as reported by Wrestling USA magazine as well as completed their highest finishes at the NAIA National Tournament with a 5th place finish in 2005 and a national championship in 2006. 2006 also brought a NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals Championship as well. In his two years at Dana, the Vikings posted a 29-6-1 dual record as well as helped coach 17 All-Americans, four national finalists, and two national champions.

    Overall in Fergola's four-year college coaching career, he has helped produce 26 All-Americans, two national champions and four top ten team finishes.

    Prior to his position at Neosho, Fergola was a high school head coach in Kansas. Overall, he coached 36 state qualifiers, 15 state placers, and two state champions in five years of coaching at the high school level. Fergola is also very active with freestyle and Greco-Roman competitions. On the national level, he has produced 52 Cadet and Junior All-Americans and five national champions.

    Fergola earned his bachelor's degree from Emporia State University in physical education and special education in 1996. He completed his master's degree in health, physical education and recreation from Emporia State University in 2004.

    "I am very excited about this opportunity to take over the Viking wrestling program. We will still strive for excellence both in the classroom as well as the mat. Dana has reached the top of the NAIA ranks and my goal is to keep them there," said Fergola.

    Fergola also teaches special education for Blair High School. He lives in Blair with his wife, Marcy, and three children Anthony, Taylor and Rocco.

    Fergola replaces Steve Costanzo who has been hired as head wrestling coach at NCAA Division II St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn.

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