Takedown Report

Why hire a new head coach in May: The Lindenwood situation

by Gabrielle Lord-KleinPosted onAugust 23, 2019

In May, Lindenwood University—Belleville announced plans to eliminate most undergraduate programs at the conclusion of the 2019-20 academic school year, citing ongoing financial issues. The idea was that LU-Belleville’s sister program, Lindenwood University, would absorb undergraduate transfers. Initial statements indicated the full continuation of athletic programs through 2020 with the exception of swimming and ice hockey. Separately announced was the promotion of Graham Karwath to the position of head men’s and women’s wrestling coach; Karwath was tasked with recruiting and leading both programs through the sport’s final year in Belleville.
Several weeks ago, coach Karwath and the women’s wrestling team were notified the program would be discontinued immediately. Women wanting to compete this year would be required to transfer to the St. Charles location or find another home. If remaining at either LU location, scholarships will remain intact. So why hire a new head coach at the Belleville location in May only to announce a last-minute consolidation to St. Charles at the end of July? It turns out that on the St. Charles campus, Andrey Rodriguez resigned from her position as head coach mid-summer. Administration found the future of the St. Charles program coach-less, with the tail end of the Belleville location sporting a new head coach with just one season of competition left.
Tom Wagganer, LU’s Senior Associate Athletic Director, said, “Instead of splitting our resources, we decided it would be the perfect opportunity to consolidate the programs right now, with a more focused investment in a long-term coach to take our program into the future . . . we are excited to move forward with the team as a stronger unit, together, rather than dispersed at sister schools waiting for an inevitable junction just a year down the road”. Rest of the story at
https://www.transitionwrestling.com/why-hire-a-new-head-coach-in-may-the-lindenwood-situation/?mc_cid=78081b2102&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Mike Mena Named Women’s Wrestling Coach
Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Brad Wachler has named Mike Mena as the new women’s wrestling head coach.  “Coach Mena has a wealth of coaching experience and a great track record of success both academically and athletically,” Wachler said.  “With his personal accomplishments on the mat and his lifelong involvement in the sport, I know he will energize our women’s wrestling program and position it for great things in the future.” 

Mena brings 18 years of collegiate coaching experience to Lindenwood, most recently as the assistant wrestling coach at California Baptist University in Riverside, California.  After winning the RMAC Team Championship and the 2018 NCAA Division II Super Regional, the program finished third at the National Championship, producing four NCAA Division II All-Americans, three finalists, and the 149 pound NCAA Division II National Wrestling Champion. Rest of the story at https://lindenwoodlions.com/news/2019/8/23/mike-mena-named-womens-wrestling-coach.aspx?mc_cid=78081b2102&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

August 27, 2019 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized