Northern Colorado Hires Ware as New Head Coach

The University of Northern Colorado announced this afternoon that they’ve hired Oklahoma assistant coach Teyon Ware to be their next head coach. Ware had spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater. Before his return to Oklahoma, Ware was an assistant on the Wyoming staff for eight years. Ware got his collegiate coaching career started with a three-year stint at Binghamton. Before Binghamton, Ware was on staff at Penn State’s Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. 

While at Oklahoma, Ware helped oversee a squad that sent 18 wrestlers to the NCAA Championships during his three years. The Sooners had one All-American during that span (Stephen Buchanan). Ware also played a role in helping the Sooners ink the #3 overall recruiting class in 2024. 

Buchanan was also an All-American for Ware at Wyoming. During his time in Laramie, six Wyoming wrestlers earned a spot on the NCAA podium. 

As an athlete, Ware was a four-time All-American and two-time national champion for the Sooners. He won his first title as a true freshman in 2003 (when it was a rare feat) and again in 2005. He was a three-time Big 12 champion and three-time national finalist. He also made an impact on the international scene with a berth on the 2011 World Team in freestyle and two Pan-American medals. 

Ware inherits a Northern Colorado squad that finished fifth in the Big 12 and produced a pair of All-Americans (a first in their DI era). Unfortunately, during the coaching transition, both All-Americans (Stevo Poulin and Vinny Zerban) transferred to Iowa State. The Bears still have 2025 Big 12 champion Dominick Serrano returning. 

Ware’s addition makes him the eighth head coach in the history of Northern Colorado wrestling. The position was open after Troy Nickerson accepted the heading coaching position at Army West Point.