Sixth annual NWCA/FCA CEO Leadership Academy set for Edwardsville, Ill., May 17-18
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By NWCA | May 17, 2016, 12:13 p.m. (ET)

Ohio State head wrestling coach Tom Ryan.
Photo: Ohio State University Athletics.
Manheim, Pa. – The sixth annual NWCA/FCAW CEO Leadership Academy is set to take place at the Jon Davis Wrestling Center in Edwardsville, Ill., on May 17-18. A collaborative effort between the National Wrestling Coaches Association, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Wrestling, this Leadership Academy is focused on coaches at faith-based institutions.
Since 2000, there have been 153 new collegiate wrestling teams on both the men’s and women’s side and most of the additions have come from small, private faith-based colleges and universities.

“Smaller faith-based institutions have a set of values that present their own unique challenges,” said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. “With the help of Dr. Dan Gould, the architect for both of our Leadership Academies and with the backing of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, we have a tremendous educational program with a great panel of speakers, coaches and individuals who can help with the nature of these institutions.”

Ohio State head wrestling coach Tom Ryan and American University Director of Athletics Gen. Billy Walker will serve as the featured speakers. Ryan led Ohio State to its first NCAA Division I team championship in 2015. Ryan previously turned Hofstra into an Eastern power as the Pride were ranked as high as No. 2 during his tenure. Since coming to Ohio State, the Buckeyes have become a national force.

Gen. Walker is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and served as a command pilot in the Air Force, clocking over 3,000 hours of flight time. He was previously the chair of the Division I Wrestling Committee as well as an athletic administrator at his alma mater.
Chattanooga head wrestling coach Heath Eslinger will facilitate the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Wrestling portion of the program.

The panel includes retired Oklahoma head coach Jack Spates, Maryville head coach Mike Denney, Wheaton coach Jim Gruenwald, Grand View head coach Nick Mitchell, Luther head coach Dave Mitchell as well as Greenville (Pa.) High School coach John Reynolds and Michigan State doctoral student Scott Westfall, who works with the MSU Institute for the Study of Youth Sports.

“Each speaker brings a unique element to the discussion,” said Moyer. “We have legendary coaches like Jack Spates and Mike Denney, who have been successful in preaching their philosophy to young student-athletes for years. Jim Gruenwald has both represented the United States at the Olympic Games, as well as national champion coaches like Denney, Nick Mitchell and Tom Ryan.”

“There’s truly something every attendee can learn from each of our speakers,” said Moyer. “Not all schools have the same institutional vision, so with our partners at FCA Wrestling, we can learn, teach and prepare coaches for all aspects of coaching beyond the technical part of the sport.”

The joint NWCA-FCAW Leadership Academy is part of a much larger NWCA coaching development initiative. The CEO Leadership Academy components are designed to strengthen the coach’s CEO skills as well as to promote best practices for maintaining a strong alignment between our collegiate wrestling programs and the greater educational mission of each school. In 2011, the “faith-based” component was added so scholarships can be extended to an additional 25 - 30 coaches each year.

Ben Peterson, a 1972 Olympic champion, will also be attending, but not as a speaker, but an Leadership Academy participant.

“When you have someone like Ben Peterson, who has been involved in the sport for more than 50 years coming, it shows you’re never too old to keep learning. We’re honored to have coach Peterson involved in this year’s program,” said Moyer.

Twenty-five college, high school and club coaches will attend this year’s Leadership Academy. College coaches include: Ryan Kirst (Ashland), Dean Zenie (College of Mt. St. Vincent), Joe DeAngelo and Dan Vallimont (Hofstra), Brandon Nelsen (Indianapolis), Cristian Gomez Perez (Ithaca), Daryl Thomas (Lincoln), Chad Cook (Manchester), Ryan Beltz, Nick Burghardt and Keenan Hagerty (Maryville), Jake Fredricksen (North Central), Brent Rastetter (Otterbein), Aaron Konitzer (St. Cloud State), Mark DiSalvo (Thomas More), Devon Fenstermaker (Truman State), Elroy Perkin (UW-Eau Claire), Ned Shuck (UW-Whitewater), Nathen Bauer (Warner Pacific), Kyle Ruschell (Wisconsin) and Ben Peterson.

From the club and high school levels: Nate Naasz (Beloit Junior/Senior H.S.), Cory Reichert (Maplewood-Richmond Heights H.S.), Don Jones (Team Jones), and Kyle Meyer (Webb School of Knoxville).

For full information about the NWCA Leadership Academy, go to http://www.nwcaonline.com/nwcawebsite/coachingdevelopment/collegeacademy.aspx