The board recognized outgoing NWCA President, Coach Jim Beichner, for his exemplary leadership of the association. Among the many extraordinary accomplishments under his direction was the development of an innovative Coaches Leadership Academy. Not only was Coach Beichner instrumental in helping to develop the curriculum but he also played a major role in implementing a scholarship program designed to provide all head college coaches with the opportunity to enroll in the Academy at no cost.
“This Academy is one of the most significant accomplishments of the NWCA in its 82 year history,” said executive director, Mike Moyer.
Coach Brian Smith, the head coach at the University of Missouri, assumed his role as NWCA President with his two-year term beginning at the completion of the board meeting.
The Board of Directors voted Rob Koll, head coach at Cornell University, as President-elect. He will serve a two-year term in that role before his term as NWCA President officially begins.
The NWCA added high school coaches Wayne Branstetter of California and Craig Hanson of Washington to the Board of Directors as new scholastic representatives for the next two-year cycle. Collectively, these coaches have combined for over 60 years of coaching experience, have both been named state coach of the year and hold multiple other awards. They will work closely with the NWCA’s scholastic directors and John Licata, the NWCA Coaching Development Coordinator. They will be replacing Brian Smith (Moon Valley/Arizona) and Les Combs (Bend/Oregon) who have competed their terms.
“Both Coach Smith and Coach Combs have made significant contributions to the NWCA as evidenced that under their leadership, the membership grew from approximately 1,000 to 8,500 scholastic coaches. We are forever grateful for their tireless efforts to grow our organization,” said Mike Moyer.
A significant element in the board meeting involved the passing of the Coaching Code of Ethics. The Board expressed its intent to elevate scholastic and collegiate wrestling to the highest of standards among all sports. The Code of Ethics will be an integral educational component of the NWCA’s educational outreach programs. “We are extremely grateful to the primary architects of the code of Ethics, Todd Hibbs (former head coach at Olivet College), Dr. Dan Gould (Professor at Michigan State University), and Ron and Jan Mirikitani (NWCA Board Members),” said NWCA President, Brian Smith.
In addition, the board passed the NWCA strategic plan and goals, which highlights the three core competencies of the NWCA: Coaching Development, Student-Wrestler Welfare, and Promotion and Advocacy for Wrestling. The board also adopted a position statement of securing unanimous support of all Division I coaches for a “reformatted” National Dual Meet Championships for the 2012 season.
The Board has also pledged its full support in collaborating with the coaches of the non Division I levels to design an alternative National Dual Meet format that is viable. In the absence of this unanimous support, the National Duals will be dissolved at the completion of the 2011 Championships. The goal is to develop a model that places more emphasis on the outcome of each dual meet throughout the season. In doing so, the Board expects to significantly grow the spectator and media base at the institutional level. If successful, this should position wrestling to grow its spectator and media base at the conference and national levels as well.
The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The membership embraces all people interested in amateur wrestling.
The three core competencies of the NWCA are: Coaching Development, student-athlete welfare, and promotion of wrestling.
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