PAINESVILLE, OHIO - Lake Erie College recently announced the addition of wrestling and men's and women's swimming and diving to the College's stable of Division II sports. Today, Director of Athletics Griz Zimmermann is announcing the individual who will lead one of the two new programs.
Kevin Hoogenboom, a former assistant coach at Mercyhurst College, has been named the first head wrestling coach in school history. He will be charged with the task of building the program from the "mat up."
"I'm really grateful to President Victor and Griz Zimmermann for this opportunity and I am truly honored to be selected as the first wrestling coach at Lake Erie College," Hoogenboom said. "Having previously been part of a new program as a student-athlete and then an emerging one as an assistant coach, I am looking forward to building a great program here."
"Kevin has considerable experience at the NCAA Division II level and has helped develop quality student-athletes, both on the mat and in the classroom," said Zimmermann. "We realize there is a real passion and desire on the part of students and parents to compete in wrestling at the collegiate level. Kevin is someone who understands those passions and desires, having not only coached but also been a college wrestler himself, and that will aid him in recruiting quality student-athletes and building a strong wrestling tradition at Lake Erie College."
Hoogenboom was part of the first wrestling recruiting class in Mercyhurst history and after his career ended in 2004, he headed to the bench as an assistant coach under Tony Cipollone. During his tenure, he coached 11 Division II All-Americans and 26 national qualifiers. The Lakers never finished worse than third in the Division II East Regional Championships during his time. As impressively, he coached 26 student-athletes who garnered all-academic team recognition.
"My goal is to develop a program that competes at the highest level of Division II athletically and one that is succeeds in the classroom and one that is respected by the Lake Erie faculty, staff, student body, and community," Hoogenboom said.
Hoogenboom earned his bachelor's degree from Mercyhurst in business administration. Outside of athletics, he has been a part of several success ventures, including sales and real estate.
Kevin Hoogenboom, a former assistant coach at Mercyhurst College, has been named the first head wrestling coach in school history. He will be charged with the task of building the program from the "mat up."
"I'm really grateful to President Victor and Griz Zimmermann for this opportunity and I am truly honored to be selected as the first wrestling coach at Lake Erie College," Hoogenboom said. "Having previously been part of a new program as a student-athlete and then an emerging one as an assistant coach, I am looking forward to building a great program here."
"Kevin has considerable experience at the NCAA Division II level and has helped develop quality student-athletes, both on the mat and in the classroom," said Zimmermann. "We realize there is a real passion and desire on the part of students and parents to compete in wrestling at the collegiate level. Kevin is someone who understands those passions and desires, having not only coached but also been a college wrestler himself, and that will aid him in recruiting quality student-athletes and building a strong wrestling tradition at Lake Erie College."
Hoogenboom was part of the first wrestling recruiting class in Mercyhurst history and after his career ended in 2004, he headed to the bench as an assistant coach under Tony Cipollone. During his tenure, he coached 11 Division II All-Americans and 26 national qualifiers. The Lakers never finished worse than third in the Division II East Regional Championships during his time. As impressively, he coached 26 student-athletes who garnered all-academic team recognition.
"My goal is to develop a program that competes at the highest level of Division II athletically and one that is succeeds in the classroom and one that is respected by the Lake Erie faculty, staff, student body, and community," Hoogenboom said.
Hoogenboom earned his bachelor's degree from Mercyhurst in business administration. Outside of athletics, he has been a part of several success ventures, including sales and real estate.
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