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    Lyon College selects Cook as new head wrestling coach

    BATESVILLE, Ark. -- Lyon College President W. Joseph King and Director of Athletics Kevin Jenkins announced that Chad Cook will take over as the new head men's wrestling coach. Cook replaces Tom Erikson, who was in charge of the Scots since the 2015-16 season.

    "I am excited to welcome Chad Cook as our next head men's wrestling coach," said Jenkins. "Coach Cook will be a great asset to our men's wrestling program, athletic department and college. He brings years of high-level wrestling knowledge and experience along with a hard-working attitude!"

    Chad Cook
    Cook most recently served as an assistant wrestling coach at Kentucky Wesleyan College. He helped improve the Panthers' record by four wins. The team also finished sixth in NCAA Division II in total volunteer hours.

    Prior to his stint at Kentucky Wesleyan, Cook was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the men's and women's wrestling program at Wayland Baptist University. During his time at WBU, Cook helped the women's program to a NAIA National Duals Team Championship and the highest finish in school history (4th) at the Women's Collegiate Wrestling Association (WCWA) Nationals. He also led the men's team to 10 NAIA national qualifiers, while being ranked as high as No. 9 nationally. Cook coached 25 All-Americans, six National Champions, five World Team Trials (WTT) places and one WTT champion for the women's team.

    Cook also held coaching positions at Manchester University and the University of Dubuque.

    Cook got his coaching career started in 2005, when he served as the wrestling coach at F.J. Reitz High School in Evansville, Ind. At F.J. Reitz, Cook coached 20 high school state qualifiers and 10 state place winners. He also established the Reitz Elite Program, which taught top-level technique to the best 4th-8th graders.

    He was a collegiate wrestler at the University of Dubuque and the University of Southern Indiana. At Southern Indiana, he was a two-time NCWA national qualifier, earning 2008 NCWA All-American (sixth place) at 165 pounds.

    "I'm extremely excited to start this new journey at Lyon College," stated Cook. "Everyone I met through the interview process was very welcoming, and it's clear this is a place we can be successful. While this is a unique year, I'm excited to get right to work on helping the current guys find their spot on the national podium and finding future Scots that want to get a great education, achieve big things athletically, and develop as a man. I want to thank Kevin Jenkins and the rest of the hiring committee for this opportunity. I'm also looking forward to working with Coach [Kevin] Corbett in making Lyon College a destination for future national and world champions!"

    Cook earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Dubuque in 2013 and will obtain a Masters of Education in Sports Administration & Management from Wayland Baptist this upcoming May.

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