FULTON, Mo. – Aug. 15, 2025 – The Blue Jays men's and women's wrestling programs at Westminster are excited to launch a nationwide search for two new National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III head coaches who will further move the College's programs into championship culture.
Dr. Jessica Brown, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, announced that the men's and women's head coaches will also serve as assistant coaches for each other, ensuring close collaboration between the programs.
Since adding men's and women's wrestling to the College's athletics roster in 2017, three Westminster men have competed at the NCAA D-III National Championships, and three women have likewise wrestled at the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championship.
With the women's sport earning NCAA status in July, Brown aims to take Westminster wrestlers beyond qualification and into winning contention — while also upholding the NCAA Division III philosophy, which is anchored in the holistic student-athlete experience.
Citing National Wrestling Coaches Association data showing wrestlers' strong academic performance, Brown said that in addition to establishing a culture of championship mindset, she is confident Westminster's student-athletes can earn national and conference academic honors. The goal is in keeping with the academic mission of Westminster, where student-athletes excel academically, typically composing roughly 50% of the College's Dean's List.
Brown also noted that the number of student-athletes at Westminster has increased steadily in recent years, from 282 in the fall of 2023 to nearly 420 anticipated this fall, which is a testament to the College's strong academic and athletics programs.
"We're excited about the future of our programs and feel a strong foundation has been laid. It is important that we secure coaches who will continue to elevate our wrestling program to championship status while continuing to support our Division III mission, which supports the NCAA's ideals of the well-rounded student experience," Brown said.
She added that with the steadily increasing population of committed student-athletes - which will continue after augmenting the men's and women's wrestling programs and launching women's flag football - the Blue Jays are poised for a positive future.
Brown reflected, "Our goal is twofold: Deliver superior training to send more wrestlers to Nationals, and provide strong support for the academic demands of a Westminster education."
The announcement of an interim men's and women's head wrestling coach is forthcoming.
For details on applying for the coaching positions, please contact Rosie Kent at Rosie.Kent@WCMO.edu or 573-592-5462.
ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS AND WESTMINSTER COLLEGE: The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, boasts 20 varsity sports teams and is a member of the NCAA Division III, the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Upper Midwest Athletic Conference. Westminster is ranked prestigiously by The Princeton Review as one of 151 "Best Colleges in the Midwest" for 2026. Westminster is one of just 37 Higher Learning Commission-accredited institutions nationwide to be fully aligned with the Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement Coalition. New graduates experience a more than 90% placement rate within six months of graduation, while Westminster alumni are in the top 16% nationwide for graduate earnings. The only National Liberal Arts college in Missouri, Westminster has long been recognized for its focus on educating and inspiring students to make an impact on the world around them. Find out more about Westminster College by visiting our website.