Bigdeli named head women's coach at Ottawa University
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by Ottawa University
OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University athletic department is pleased to announce the hiring of head women's wrestling coach, Mahdi Bigdely.
"I am honored and extremely excited for the opportunity to be a part of this young and very promising women's wrestling program at Ottawa University," said Bigdely. "I am confident that together we can accomplish outstanding results, both academically and athletically, that our university and our community can be proud of. I would like to sincerely thank Mrs. Arabie Conner and the University for giving me this opportunity."
Before coming to OU, Bigdely was a graduate assistant coach with the University of Jamestown women's wrestling program. In 2015, he was invited to coach at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., to help the USA Women's Wrestling National Team train.
Bigdely has coached many wrestling teams in national and international competitions, leading them to a first place finish. He also coached the Tehran Wrestling Team in the Iran National Wrestling Championships in 2012 and 2013. The team earned first in 2012 and third in 2013. Bigdely served as an analyst for the Iran National Teams in 2012 London Olympics. He was also a member of the Scientific Committee of the National Olympic Committee for the Islamic Republic of IRAN for the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics. He has authored and presented more than 15 papers in scientific and scholarly conferences all around the world, of which we can name EASM, SMA, and AMA conferences.
Bigdely was raised in Tehran, Iran, where he wrestled for the Iranian National Team. He made his first appearance on the national stage as a 16 year-old, and won championships in different national and international tournaments. Bigdely last competed in 2006, placing in several international, world championships, and Asian tournaments.
"We are very pleased that Coach Bigdely has accepted our offer to become our new head women's wrestling coach," said Arabie Conner, OU athletic director. "His international coaching and competitive wrestling experience and successes will add depth and knowledge to our women's program and wrestling staff. We expect him to be instrumental in continuing to grow our program and develop our student-athletes in all aspects including the competitive levels they each seek to attain. Through the search process, we have been very impressed with Coach Bigdely's level of professionalism, lifelong commitment to the sport of wrestling and his high character values. He has both competed and coached at a very elite level including his work with Olympic level athletes and we look forward to what he will bring to our program and campus community."
He served as an instructor and coach to several top-level Iranian coaches and referees in the International Wrestling Institute of Iran to upgrade their coaching certification to international level (the highest recognized coaching certificate by FILA).
Bigdely graduated from the University of Tehran with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He earned a master's degree in sports management from Allameh Tabatabaie University and a master's in education with a concentration in physical education and coaching from the University of Jamestown. He lives with his wife, Somy and his newborn son Eli.
His athletic achievements in wrestling/free style include:
• 4th place in wrestling FS youth world championship: 2001 Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
• 3rd place in Asian youth championship: 2001 Mashhad, Iran.
• 1st place in Children World Day championship for 3 years (Iran 1997‐1998‐1999).
• 1st place in Netegh Noori Int. tournament for 3 years (Iran 2000‐2001‐2002).
• 1st place in Fred & Field Int. tournament: 2002 Latvia.
• 1st place in Iranian intercollegiate championship for 2 years (2005‐ 2006).
• 1st place in Iranian country championships (1998-1999-2002-2009-2010).
• Top 10 athletes of Iran (2000).
• Appreciation award from president of I.R.IRAN Mr. Khatami in 2004 for successful sport activities and championship.
Bigdely will begin his official duties on October 1.
"I am honored and extremely excited for the opportunity to be a part of this young and very promising women's wrestling program at Ottawa University," said Bigdely. "I am confident that together we can accomplish outstanding results, both academically and athletically, that our university and our community can be proud of. I would like to sincerely thank Mrs. Arabie Conner and the University for giving me this opportunity."
Before coming to OU, Bigdely was a graduate assistant coach with the University of Jamestown women's wrestling program. In 2015, he was invited to coach at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., to help the USA Women's Wrestling National Team train.
Bigdely has coached many wrestling teams in national and international competitions, leading them to a first place finish. He also coached the Tehran Wrestling Team in the Iran National Wrestling Championships in 2012 and 2013. The team earned first in 2012 and third in 2013. Bigdely served as an analyst for the Iran National Teams in 2012 London Olympics. He was also a member of the Scientific Committee of the National Olympic Committee for the Islamic Republic of IRAN for the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics. He has authored and presented more than 15 papers in scientific and scholarly conferences all around the world, of which we can name EASM, SMA, and AMA conferences.
Bigdely was raised in Tehran, Iran, where he wrestled for the Iranian National Team. He made his first appearance on the national stage as a 16 year-old, and won championships in different national and international tournaments. Bigdely last competed in 2006, placing in several international, world championships, and Asian tournaments.
"We are very pleased that Coach Bigdely has accepted our offer to become our new head women's wrestling coach," said Arabie Conner, OU athletic director. "His international coaching and competitive wrestling experience and successes will add depth and knowledge to our women's program and wrestling staff. We expect him to be instrumental in continuing to grow our program and develop our student-athletes in all aspects including the competitive levels they each seek to attain. Through the search process, we have been very impressed with Coach Bigdely's level of professionalism, lifelong commitment to the sport of wrestling and his high character values. He has both competed and coached at a very elite level including his work with Olympic level athletes and we look forward to what he will bring to our program and campus community."
He served as an instructor and coach to several top-level Iranian coaches and referees in the International Wrestling Institute of Iran to upgrade their coaching certification to international level (the highest recognized coaching certificate by FILA).
Bigdely graduated from the University of Tehran with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He earned a master's degree in sports management from Allameh Tabatabaie University and a master's in education with a concentration in physical education and coaching from the University of Jamestown. He lives with his wife, Somy and his newborn son Eli.
His athletic achievements in wrestling/free style include:
• 4th place in wrestling FS youth world championship: 2001 Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
• 3rd place in Asian youth championship: 2001 Mashhad, Iran.
• 1st place in Children World Day championship for 3 years (Iran 1997‐1998‐1999).
• 1st place in Netegh Noori Int. tournament for 3 years (Iran 2000‐2001‐2002).
• 1st place in Fred & Field Int. tournament: 2002 Latvia.
• 1st place in Iranian intercollegiate championship for 2 years (2005‐ 2006).
• 1st place in Iranian country championships (1998-1999-2002-2009-2010).
• Top 10 athletes of Iran (2000).
• Appreciation award from president of I.R.IRAN Mr. Khatami in 2004 for successful sport activities and championship.
Bigdely will begin his official duties on October 1.
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