Sammie Henson is the new head wrestling coach at the West Virginia University. Henson succeeds Craig Turnbull whose contract expired and was not renewed late March.
Henson joins Mountaineer Maniacs after serving as the head assistant coach at the University of Missouri for the last two seasons. He is also the current head coach for the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club, which has more current world and Olympic wrestlers than any other wrestling club in the United States.
"I look forward to changing the culture to making West Virginia wrestling among the nation's best," Henson said in a statement.
He also had stints at the University of Oklahoma, Cal Poly (2007-09), University of Nebraska, Army, and Penn State. Overall, Henson has 17 years of coaching experience that includes coaching more than 20 NCAA All-Americans and five NCAA champs.
As a collegiate wrestler at Clemson University, Henson was a two-time NCAA champ. And as a freestyle competitor, Henson won a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and gold and bronze medals at World Championships.
Athletic director Oliver Luck has an outstanding academic record during his coaching career.
"Sammie has experienced much success as a wrestler and a coach, and he knows what it takes to win. He brings a lot of excitement, energy and enthusiasm, and understands the work ethic that all Mountaineers share," Luck said.
"Sammie has had a vibrant role in the regional training centers to help amateur wrestlers train at the highest levels. Regional training centers make huge impacts with collegiate and amateur wrestlers, and we are excited to re-establish the dormant wrestling training center here."
enson has a tough task of getting the team back on the winning track. Since its acceptance into the Big 12, Mountaineer Maniacs haven't yet secured a dual match and has always been placed last in the team standings. The program has had only one finalist - heavyweight A.J. Vizcarrondo at the 2014 championships.
