"George Mason will always be a special place to me and my wife Shannon," Mark Weader said. "I have been fortunate to spend 16 years here and I am truly grateful to the senior athletic administration at Mason for the opportunities that they gave me. I also feel honored to have worked with some great student-athletes and I'm proud of the accomplishments the wrestling program made during my tenure."
"Mark has been an integral part of Mason wrestling, watching him grow from a student-athlete to a coach and leader," O'Connor said. "We are grateful for his dedication he provided to the program, the student-athletes and the Mason community. We wish him and his family the very best."
Weader recently concluded his sixth season as head coach and 16th overall with the Patriots program. He was the top assistant for the George Mason wrestling team from 1999-2005 and a former Patriot star, and took over the full-time head coaching duties after serving as the interim head coach during the 2005-06 season.
The Danville, Pa native guided several wrestlers to conference and NCAA heights. In 2010, Brandon Bucher (149) and Mendbagana Tovuujav (174) both earned berths to the NCAA Championships. In 2008-09, both Cayle Byers (197) and Tovuujav (174) finished the season nationally ranked. At the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, Byers came within one win of earning All-America status.
During the 2007-08 season, Weader guided the Patriots to a 13-5 overall mark, recording the most wins since the 1991-92 season. Two of Weader's pupils, Byers and senior Randy Oates, both qualified for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, while three freshmen - Bucher (149), Byers (197), who finished the season nationally ranked in two polls, and Frankie McLaughlin IV (157) - were all named to the CAA All-Rookie Team. In addition to their success on the mat, the Patriots were also recognized for their hard work in the classroom, earning 2007-08 NWCA Division I All-Academic Wrestling Team honors.
In his first season as a head coach in 2005-06, redshirt freshman Tyler Tisdell finished as the runner-up at 165 pounds at the CAA Championships and advanced to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.
As a student-athlete Weader completed his George Mason career in 1998-99 as he compiled a 17-11 overall record, won the Colonial Athletic Association Championship at 157 pounds and advanced for the first time to the NCAA Championships. The tri-captain placed second twice at 142 pounds at the CAA Championships, and he won the Virginia Division I Intercollegiate Championship in 1998. A four-year starter for the Patriots after transferring from Clemson University, Weader finished his career with an overall record of 75-40, ranking in the top-20 all-time in victories at Mason.
Weader and his wife, the former Shannon Jones, married on May 14, 2005. Jones played soccer for George Mason's women's team from 1996-98. The couple has two sons, Benjamin and Tyler.
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