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    Ex-college wrestlers, MMA fighters to coach at St. Laurence High School

    Clay French
    St. Laurence High School's wrestling program will be coached by two former college wrestlers who also have fought in mixed martial arts competition. The Catholic high school outside Chicago has hired Clay French, who wrestled at Eastern Illinois University, as its head wrestling coach, while Purdue University mat alum Carson Beebe will be assistant coach, the Beverly Review reported Tuesday.

    Born in the Chicago suburb of Villa Park, Ill., French, 34, graduated from Charleston High School in east-central Illinois, where he was a Class AA all-state wrestler. For college, French continued his education in the same town, wrestling at Eastern Illinois where he was coached by EIU alum and MMA legend Matt Hughes. After earning his bachelor's degree, French helped coach at EIU while working on his master's degree. (The EIU wrestling program was eliminated in 2007.)

    French brings coaching experience to his new position at St. Laurence, having coached six years at Willowbrook High School, and a year as the head coach at Mt. Carmel High School, both in Illinois.

    "Clay is very well respected in the wrestling community because of his work ethic and his ability to teach the technical aspects of wrestling," said St. Laurence Athletic Director Tim Chandler. "Additionally, I was impressed with Clay's high moral compass and passion for wrestling. I am confident he and his staff will deliver sustained success and stability within the program."

    "As the wrestling coach at St. Laurence, I will use the sport to develop the student-athletes' work ethic, confidence, integrity, self-discipline, humility, respect and a goal-setting mindset," said French. "It is an honor to be named the head coach at a school with such a strong wrestling tradition. I look forward to building the program back to a championship caliber."

    Carson Beebe
    French will be joined by Carson Beebe, 34, who also brings strong Midwest wrestling roots and an MMA background as the Vikings' assistant wrestling coach. Beebe was a two-time captain, two-time dual-team state champion and three-time state place winner for Montini Catholic High. He then continued his education and mat career to Purdue, where he was a starter for the Boilermakers.

    Both French and Beebe also bring MMA backgrounds to their new coaching positions. French has built an overall record of 20-7 over his decade-long professional career. He won the King of the Cage lightweight title and defended it three times. Beebe, who launched his pro MMA career in 2010, has compiled a 15-4 record as a professional.

    St. Laurence is an all-male high school for grades 9-12. The school, located in Burbank, Ill. southwest of downtown Chicago, was founded in 1961.
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