Elliott Spence will be taking the helm at MSJ, the school where he wrestled a decade ago. He replaces Brennan Ryan, who had been head coach of the NCAA Division III wrestling program for the past year, who is leaving Mt. St. Joe to concentrate on coaching his three children as well as his business interests.
Elliott SpenceSpence brings a strong background in wrestling and coaching to The Mount. The 2004 Cincinnati Elder High School graduate was a three-time Ohio state championships qualifier and state placer. For college, Spence stayed in Cincinnati, choosing Mt. St. Joseph University, where he was a three-time NCAA All-American, placing eighth at 157 pounds in 2006 and 2007, and second at 149 in 2008. In addition, Spence was a two-time NWCA (National Wrestling Coaches Association) Academic All-American in 2007 and 2008.
After graduating from MSJ, Spence launched his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Delaware Valley University, where he helped coach seven NCAA All-Americans at Delaware Valley and two top 10 team finishes. During his time at Delaware valley, he was named NCAA Midwest Regional Assistant Coach of the Year in 2010. Since 2012, Spence has served as head coach at West Cincinnati Wrestling Club at Elder Junior High.
"I am excited to take over the Mount Saint Joseph wrestling program," Spence told InterMat. "I grew up one mile from Mount Saint Joseph University and can remember going to their camps as a youth wrestler, and never thought that one day I would have the opportunity to lead the program.
"Mount Saint Joseph was once one of the best wrestling programs in the country and has a deep, supportive alumni base. One of the first things I plan to do, besides recruiting, is getting the alumni involved with the program. Mount Saint Joseph wrestling alumni are coaching at high schools all over Cincinnati. Most of them were a part of the program when the Mount was regularly send wrestlers to nationals and returning as All-Americans. Those days will return in the near future.
"The greater Cincinnati area is rich in wrestling talent," Spence continued. "I have no doubt that Mount Saint Joseph will be back as one of the top NCAA Division 3 wrestling programs in the country if the talent from the greater Cincinnati area stays at home and competes at the Mount."
Mount Saint Joseph University is a private, Catholic, four-year college located in western Cincinnati. Founded in 1920 as the College of Mount St. Joseph, the school now has an enrollment of approximately 2,300 students. The MSJ Lions wrestling program -- as well as the school's other intercollegiate sports -- all compete in NCAA Division III.
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