Drury University names James Reynolds its first head wrestling coach
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by Drury University Athletics
Drury's first NCAA Division II men's wrestling program now has a head coach, as former Maryville University assistant James Reynolds will guide the Panthers in their inaugural 2016-17 season, DU Director of Athletics Mark Fisher announced on Tuesday.
Reynolds, 31, is in his fifth season as the top assistant coach at Maryville, currently the nation's top-ranked NCAA-II program under head coach Mike Denney. A native of Alamosa, Colo., Reynolds will begin his duties at Drury effective January 4.
"I am grateful for the opportunity and excited for the challenge in bringing NCAA Division II wrestling to Drury," Reynolds says. "Springfield is a beautiful city and the region has a rich tradition in wrestling. Starting a program presents a unique opportunity to build a championship culture while developing young men into leaders.
"I was fortunate enough to help build the program at Maryville University and I'm eager to begin the process at Drury. I would like to thank everyone associated with bringing a wrestling program to Drury University, and I am confident the program will add to the already strong history of success in Drury Athletics."
Reynolds, who joined Denney at Maryville after the pair had run one of the country's most successful D-II programs at Nebraska-Omaha, will hit the ground running next month as he attempts to fill a roster to be ready for competition next winter. Drury will become the sixth Great Lakes Valley Conference member with wrestling, the benchmark requirement for the league to hold an official championship.
Fisher says, "We are excited to have James Reynolds lead our new wrestling program. Coach Reynolds has a wealth of experience at highly successful programs and is one of the rising stars in the coaching profession. His Midwest recruiting ties will be invaluable as he looks forward to connecting with local high school coaches and the wrestling community within southwest Missouri."
In his time at the St. Louis school, Reynolds has helped coach 13 NCAA-II All-Americans and one NCAA-II national champion. In three seasons at Nebraska-Omaha - where UNO won three NCAA team championships - he helped guide five individual champions and 24 All-Americans.
Reynolds attended Adams State (Colo.), where he wrestled for coach Jason Ramstetter and defeated a number of ranked athletes as well as All-Americans, before helping coach at his alma mater after graduation for one season (2008) before moving on to Nebraska-Omaha.
Reynolds graduated from Sargent High School in Monte Vista, Colo., in 2002, where he was a three-time state qualifier as well as an all-region and placed in the state meet as a senior.
Reynolds, 31, is in his fifth season as the top assistant coach at Maryville, currently the nation's top-ranked NCAA-II program under head coach Mike Denney. A native of Alamosa, Colo., Reynolds will begin his duties at Drury effective January 4.
"I am grateful for the opportunity and excited for the challenge in bringing NCAA Division II wrestling to Drury," Reynolds says. "Springfield is a beautiful city and the region has a rich tradition in wrestling. Starting a program presents a unique opportunity to build a championship culture while developing young men into leaders.
"I was fortunate enough to help build the program at Maryville University and I'm eager to begin the process at Drury. I would like to thank everyone associated with bringing a wrestling program to Drury University, and I am confident the program will add to the already strong history of success in Drury Athletics."
Reynolds, who joined Denney at Maryville after the pair had run one of the country's most successful D-II programs at Nebraska-Omaha, will hit the ground running next month as he attempts to fill a roster to be ready for competition next winter. Drury will become the sixth Great Lakes Valley Conference member with wrestling, the benchmark requirement for the league to hold an official championship.
Fisher says, "We are excited to have James Reynolds lead our new wrestling program. Coach Reynolds has a wealth of experience at highly successful programs and is one of the rising stars in the coaching profession. His Midwest recruiting ties will be invaluable as he looks forward to connecting with local high school coaches and the wrestling community within southwest Missouri."
In his time at the St. Louis school, Reynolds has helped coach 13 NCAA-II All-Americans and one NCAA-II national champion. In three seasons at Nebraska-Omaha - where UNO won three NCAA team championships - he helped guide five individual champions and 24 All-Americans.
Reynolds attended Adams State (Colo.), where he wrestled for coach Jason Ramstetter and defeated a number of ranked athletes as well as All-Americans, before helping coach at his alma mater after graduation for one season (2008) before moving on to Nebraska-Omaha.
Reynolds graduated from Sargent High School in Monte Vista, Colo., in 2002, where he was a three-time state qualifier as well as an all-region and placed in the state meet as a senior.
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