"I am confident that Coach Vest 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.
Vest has served as head wrestling coach at Topeka High School in Topeka, Kan., for the past six years where he coached 11 state medalists, three state finalists and two state champions. He also has been a member of the Team Kansas Cadet Freestyle/Greco National Coaching staff.
He earned his bachelor's degree from Missouri Valley College in mathematics and secondary education in 2001 where he was a four-time NAIA Wrestling All-American, three-time National Finalist and 1996 National Champion at 118 pounds. He also attended Oklahoma State University.
He helped lead NAIA wrestling powerhouse Missouri Valley College to two national team titles and three runner-up finishes.
"I am very excited to make the move to college wrestling. Being able to come in and coach at an established NAIA program is a huge bonus. I feel the NAIA is one of the very best divisions for the student athlete to compete in and I look forward to bringing quality kids to Dana College," stated Vest.
Vest inherits a program that has excelled on the mat and in the classroom. The Vikings were NAIA National Champions in 2006 and finished fourth at the national meet this season.
The Dana College Vikings came in as the top team in the NWCA/NAIA All-Academic team tally for 2007. Five Dana wrestlers were named to the All-Academic team, while the overall program at Dana ranked No. 1 with a 3.34 team GPA, finishing well ahead of second-place Campbellsville University, which came in with an overall 3.176.
Vest replaces Richard Fergola who has been hired as head wrestling coach at North Iowa Area Community College.
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