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There is nothing like starting out with a bang and that is exactly what Mark Branch did in his first season as head coach of the Wyoming Cowboy Wrestling program. Branch, now in his second year, led Wyoming to a share of the 2009 WWC regular season title with a perfect 5-0 dual record in league matches and was voted the Western Wrestling Conference Coach of the Year. The Cowboys posted a 15-3 overall dual mark in 2008-09. Wyoming qualified four wrestlers for the NCAA Championships and earned the program's first-ever freshman All-America award when Joe LeBlanc captured fifth-place honors. Branch also oversaw a squad that earned nine all-WWC honors in 2008-09, the most of any WWC member institution. Branch earned additional recognition nationwide when he was named the West Region Coach of the Year by D1CollegeWrestling.net, as well as Top Rookie Coach in the nation honors from Amateur Wrestling News.
Branch came to Wyoming from Oklahoma State University where he was the Associate Head Wrestling Coach for six years, as well as a four-time NCAA finalist as a student-athlete. He was a part of five NCAA team championships as a coach and student-athlete at OSU. As a college wrestler, Branch was a member of OSU's 1994 NCAA Championship team, and served on the coaching staff for OSU's 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 NCAA titles.
As a student-athlete at OSU, Branch was a four-time NCAA All-American (1994-97), four-time NCAA National Finalist (1994-97), two-time NCAA National Champion at 167 pounds (1994 and `97) and a two-time National Freestyle All-American (1998 and `99). In 1997, he was named the Big XII Athlete of the Year, OSU Student-Athlete of the Year and the top graduating senior for OSU Wrestling. He was a four-time NWCA Academic All-American, received an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship Award and a Big XII Post-Graduate Scholarship Award.
As a member of the OSU coaching staff, Branch was named the National Wrestling Coaches' Association (NWCA) Assistant Coach of the Year in 2004. He helped coach OSU to seven Big XII Championships, four NCAA Championships and three Dual Team Championships. He was named the Associate Head Coach at OSU in 2002 and served as an assistant coach for five years prior to that. He coached 57 All-Americans and 16 NCAA Champions.
He provided the Cowboys from Stillwater with personal and team instruction including technique training, weight training, conditioning and nutrition. He was instrumental in the recruiting of student-athletes to Stillwater, as well as organizing fundraising projects, promotional strategies and assisting in public relations functions with student-athletes.
"The hiring of Mark is exciting for the future of Wyoming Cowboy wrestling," UW Athletics Director Tom Burman said. "We feel his experience and passion will enable us to become a national player in the wrestling community."
"For me, this is the realization of my goal to become an NCAA head coach," said Branch. "I'm from a competitive background, and I was looking for a place where I could build a nationally-competitive program. I believe there is a great deal of support from the Athletic Department and the University as a whole at Wyoming. Wyoming is the right program for me and the right fit for my family and I. I appreciate the confidence that Tom Burman and Matt Whisenant (UW Senior Associate Athletics Director) have shown in me to get the job done."
Branch has been a freestyle wrestling coach for the Gator Club in New Orleans, La., since 1997 where he provides personal instruction and training in freestyle wrestling. His teams have participated at various World Team training camps. He has coached at the U.S. Nationals and World/Olympic Team Trials.
Branch earned his bachelor of science degree in secondary education from Oklahoma State in 1997 and earned his master of science degree in athletic administration from OSU in 2000.
"I wouldn't be in this position if it weren't for the opportunities I was given at my alma mater, Oklahoma State," said Branch. "I learned from John Smith (Head Wrestling Coach at OSU and six-time World Champion) and was fortunate to be part of a college wrestling program where I consistently coached and developed All-Americans, National Champions and Olympians. Now I'm excited to build on the great tradition of Wyoming Cowboy wrestling."
A native of Newkirk, Okla., he and his wife Susan have a daughter, Maggie Belle (8), and a son, Mason Layne (5). |
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