Sam Barber hired as NCEP Manager for USA Wrestling
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by Gary Abbott
Sam Barber of Roseville, Minn. has been hired as the Manager of the National Coaches Education Program for USA Wrestling.
He begins this full-time position at USA Wrestling's national headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo. in early September. Barber will be responsible for managing the day-to-day responsibilities and activities associated with USA Wrestling's National Coaches Education Program (NCEP).
Barber comes to USA Wrestling with over a decade of experience as a coach on the college level, as well as extensive grassroots wrestling involvement.
"USA Wrestling is extremely fortunate to add Sam Barber to its professional staff as the NCEP Manager," said Mark Scott, USA Wrestling Director of State Services. "Sam brings an outstanding background in coaching at all levels, and his experience within the grass-roots programs of USA Wrestling will provide a keen understanding of the needs of the organizations grass-roots and developmental coaches. In addition, his experience and success at the college level will allow USA Wrestling to develop and sustain programs for coaches to advance their knowledge and expertise to levels not recently available."
He served as the head wrestling coach at Augsburg College in Minnesota during the 2007-08 season, leading one of the nation's best Div. III wrestling programs. He was the Associate Head Coach for two seasons and the Head Assistant Coach for three seasons.
During Barber's tenure at Augsburg, the program won the NCAA Div. III National Championships three times (2001, 2005, 2007), was Div. III runner-up three times (2002, 2003, 2004) and placed third two times (2006, 2008). Barber helped coach 14 NCAA Div. III individual national champions and 51 All-Americans. He was named Div. III Assistant Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association in 2006.
With the wrestling program, he served as academic coordinator and recruiting coordinator for the team. His athletes maintained a 3.2 GPA during his years with the team. He also handled marketing and promotion activities for the program. In addition, Barber was a health and physical education instructor at Augsburg for seven years.
Barber was an assistant wrestling coach at Minnesota State-Mankato during the 2000-2001 season, in which the team placed fifth in the NCAA Div. II Nationals and featured an individual national champion.
He also served five seasons as a coach at Upper Iowa University (1995-2000), including serving as the head wrestling coach during the 1999-2000 season. During his year as head coach, Upper Iowa placed 11th in the NCAA Div. III National Championships, its highest finish in 20 years. He was the head assistant coach there from 1995-1999. He coached two NCAA Div. III national champions and nine All-Americans, and was named the Div. III Rookie Coach of the Year in 1999.
Barber was active with Minnesota/USA Wrestling serving in a number of volunteer leadership positions. For more than 10 years, he was the FILA Junior/University Director for the association, the head coach of the Junior National Freestyle program and an assistant coach with the Senior-level program.
He is a USA Wrestling Silver Certified coach, and has taken the NWCA Leadership Development Training Program.
Barber has worked over 15 years as a director with the J Robinson Intensive Camps, one of the most respected and successful summer wrestling camp programs in the nation.
He received his bachelor's degree in physical education from Upper Iowa University in 1995, and his Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Experiential Education from Minnesota State - Mankato in 2004.
"I feel tremendously fortunate for the opportunity to be involved with such a prestigious organization as USA Wrestling and the Olympic movement," said Barber. "I am very excited about the opportunity to promote wrestling as the Manager of the National Coaches Education Program. I look forward to working with the world class coaches, and hard working, passionate people involved at every level of our great sport."
He begins this full-time position at USA Wrestling's national headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo. in early September. Barber will be responsible for managing the day-to-day responsibilities and activities associated with USA Wrestling's National Coaches Education Program (NCEP).
Barber comes to USA Wrestling with over a decade of experience as a coach on the college level, as well as extensive grassroots wrestling involvement.
"USA Wrestling is extremely fortunate to add Sam Barber to its professional staff as the NCEP Manager," said Mark Scott, USA Wrestling Director of State Services. "Sam brings an outstanding background in coaching at all levels, and his experience within the grass-roots programs of USA Wrestling will provide a keen understanding of the needs of the organizations grass-roots and developmental coaches. In addition, his experience and success at the college level will allow USA Wrestling to develop and sustain programs for coaches to advance their knowledge and expertise to levels not recently available."
He served as the head wrestling coach at Augsburg College in Minnesota during the 2007-08 season, leading one of the nation's best Div. III wrestling programs. He was the Associate Head Coach for two seasons and the Head Assistant Coach for three seasons.
During Barber's tenure at Augsburg, the program won the NCAA Div. III National Championships three times (2001, 2005, 2007), was Div. III runner-up three times (2002, 2003, 2004) and placed third two times (2006, 2008). Barber helped coach 14 NCAA Div. III individual national champions and 51 All-Americans. He was named Div. III Assistant Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association in 2006.
With the wrestling program, he served as academic coordinator and recruiting coordinator for the team. His athletes maintained a 3.2 GPA during his years with the team. He also handled marketing and promotion activities for the program. In addition, Barber was a health and physical education instructor at Augsburg for seven years.
Barber was an assistant wrestling coach at Minnesota State-Mankato during the 2000-2001 season, in which the team placed fifth in the NCAA Div. II Nationals and featured an individual national champion.
He also served five seasons as a coach at Upper Iowa University (1995-2000), including serving as the head wrestling coach during the 1999-2000 season. During his year as head coach, Upper Iowa placed 11th in the NCAA Div. III National Championships, its highest finish in 20 years. He was the head assistant coach there from 1995-1999. He coached two NCAA Div. III national champions and nine All-Americans, and was named the Div. III Rookie Coach of the Year in 1999.
Barber was active with Minnesota/USA Wrestling serving in a number of volunteer leadership positions. For more than 10 years, he was the FILA Junior/University Director for the association, the head coach of the Junior National Freestyle program and an assistant coach with the Senior-level program.
He is a USA Wrestling Silver Certified coach, and has taken the NWCA Leadership Development Training Program.
Barber has worked over 15 years as a director with the J Robinson Intensive Camps, one of the most respected and successful summer wrestling camp programs in the nation.
He received his bachelor's degree in physical education from Upper Iowa University in 1995, and his Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Experiential Education from Minnesota State - Mankato in 2004.
"I feel tremendously fortunate for the opportunity to be involved with such a prestigious organization as USA Wrestling and the Olympic movement," said Barber. "I am very excited about the opportunity to promote wrestling as the Manager of the National Coaches Education Program. I look forward to working with the world class coaches, and hard working, passionate people involved at every level of our great sport."
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