Tom Erikson resigns as head coach at Lyon College to accept a position at Duke
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by Lyon College
Image of Tom Erikson coaching wrestlers at Lyon courtesy of Lyon Athletics.
BATESVILLE, Ark. – Tom Erikson has announced his formal resignation as the head men's wrestling coach at Lyon College after accepting a coaching position at Duke University in Durham, N.C.
"I want to thank Coach Erikson for everything he has done for the program," said Director of Athletics Kevin Jenkins. "Tom is a relentless worker and helped elevate the men's wrestling program after taking control of the program during its second season of competition."
Erikson took over the men's and women's wrestling programs in 2015-16, which was the second season of competition for both programs. In 2017, Kevin Corbett was hired to take over the women's wrestling program, while Erikson remained the head coach for the men's program.
In 2016-17, Erikson coached the program's first ever NAIA All-American (Dustin Miller), along with one individual American Midwest Conference champion (Troy Mercer)
In 2017-18, Erikson coached a pair of NAIA National Qualifiers in Jacob Hill and Dustin Miller.
Erikson guided the Scots to a fifth-place finish in the AMC Championship during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.
A search for a new head coach for men's wrestling will begin immediately.
Editor's Notes: Duke has not announced this hire yet.
Tom Erikson was a member of the 1997 U.S. Senior Freestyle World Team, placing fourth in the World Championships at 130 kg. Erikson was a member of the Freestyle National Team for many years, and competitive with many of the world's top heavyweights. He won two NJCAA National titles for Triton, then was a two-time All-American at Oklahoma State. Erickson served many years on the coaching staff at Purdue before taking over the Lyon program.
About Lyon College:
Lyon College is located in Batesville, Arkansas, a historic town of 10,000 that serves as the commercial, medical, social, and governmental hub for an eight-county area and was named by USA Today as the best city to live in in Arkansas. Named one of the "top American colleges" by Forbes, the College currently enrolls almost 700 undergraduate students from 24 states and 15 countries.
BATESVILLE, Ark. – Tom Erikson has announced his formal resignation as the head men's wrestling coach at Lyon College after accepting a coaching position at Duke University in Durham, N.C.
"I want to thank Coach Erikson for everything he has done for the program," said Director of Athletics Kevin Jenkins. "Tom is a relentless worker and helped elevate the men's wrestling program after taking control of the program during its second season of competition."
Erikson took over the men's and women's wrestling programs in 2015-16, which was the second season of competition for both programs. In 2017, Kevin Corbett was hired to take over the women's wrestling program, while Erikson remained the head coach for the men's program.
In 2016-17, Erikson coached the program's first ever NAIA All-American (Dustin Miller), along with one individual American Midwest Conference champion (Troy Mercer)
In 2017-18, Erikson coached a pair of NAIA National Qualifiers in Jacob Hill and Dustin Miller.
Erikson guided the Scots to a fifth-place finish in the AMC Championship during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.
A search for a new head coach for men's wrestling will begin immediately.
Editor's Notes: Duke has not announced this hire yet.
Tom Erikson was a member of the 1997 U.S. Senior Freestyle World Team, placing fourth in the World Championships at 130 kg. Erikson was a member of the Freestyle National Team for many years, and competitive with many of the world's top heavyweights. He won two NJCAA National titles for Triton, then was a two-time All-American at Oklahoma State. Erickson served many years on the coaching staff at Purdue before taking over the Lyon program.
About Lyon College:
Lyon College is located in Batesville, Arkansas, a historic town of 10,000 that serves as the commercial, medical, social, and governmental hub for an eight-county area and was named by USA Today as the best city to live in in Arkansas. Named one of the "top American colleges" by Forbes, the College currently enrolls almost 700 undergraduate students from 24 states and 15 countries.
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