Hutchens Named Head Coach of Colorado School of Mines Wrestling Program

Lewis to remain with team as Assistant Coach

GOLDEN, Colo. - Josh Hutchens, one of the Orediggers' Co-Head Coaches in 2009-10, has been appointed as Head Coach of the Colorado School of Mines wrestling program, effective immediately, as announced today by Director of Athletics Tom Spicer. Dan Lewis, the Orediggers' other Co-Head Coach last season, will remain with the program as an Assistant Coach.

Hutchens, who begins his fifth overall season with the Orediggers in 2010-11, returned for his second stint as an Assistant Coach at CSM prior to the 2007-08 campaign. Hutchens served as an Assistant Coach at Mines during the 2002-03 season, as well.

Prior to returning to CSM, Hutchens spent three years (2004-05 to 2006-07) as the Head Coach at James Madison University.

A graduate of Purdue University, Hutchens placed third in the Big Ten Championships, was selected as the Boilermakers' Most Improved Wrestler and was an NCAA Division I national qualifier during his collegiate career. Hutchens, who served as a Volunteer Assistant Coach at Purdue in 2001-02, also spent one season (2003-04) as the Assistant Coach at James Madison.

Lewis will begin his 14th overall year with the CSM wrestling program in 2010-11. Lewis, who returned for his second stint as the Orediggers' Head Coach in 2007-08, also served in the same capacity at Mines from 1992-93 to 2001-02. Lewis served as CSM's Associate Director of Athletics during his hiatus as Head Coach.

Four of Lewis' previous teams (1994-95, 1995-96, 1997-98 and 1998-99) at CSM secured the NWCA's Academic National Championship, and in the 16-year history of the award, CSM is one of just two schools to earn the Academic National Championship as many as five times.

During his first 10 seasons guiding the Orediggers (1992-93 to 2001-02), Lewis coached four NCAA Division II National Champions and 10 All-Americans.  After leading the Orediggers to a seventh-place finish at the 1996 NCAA Division II National Championships, Lewis was named the NCAA Division II Coach of the Year.
Weitzel named Third Team Academic All-American by ESPN The Magazine

GOLDEN, Colo. (June 10, 2009) ˆ Colorado School of Mines‚ Cody Weitzel has been selected as a Third Team Academic All-American (College Division; men‚s at-large) by ESPN The Magazine, as announced today by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America)

.Weitzel, a 141-lb. senior wrestler who hails from Fort Morgan, Colo. (Fort Morgan High School), also earned First Team Academic All-District VII (College Division; men‚s at-large) recognition from ESPN The Magazine this season.

A two-time recipient (2007-08 and 2008-09) of First Team All-Academic honors from the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), Weitzel helped guide the Orediggers to a second-place showing on the NWCA‚s 2008-09 NCAA Division II All-Academic Top 20 Teams list. A unanimous First Team Academic All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) selection this year, Weitzel also received Academic All-RMAC laurels as a sophomore and junior. 

During his final season at Mines in 2008-09, Weitzel compiled a 15-10 overall record with one fall and placed in the top three at two events (second at the Hastings College Open; third at the Northern Colorado Open). Weitzel graduated summa cum laude from Colorado School of Mines in May of 2009 with a 4.00 cumulative GPA in Mechanical Engineering.

For more information, please visit http://athletics.mines.edu or contact CSM Sports Information Director Jeff Duggan at jduggan@mines.edu.