2008 Woodie Awards
Wrestling coach resigns
Josh McCarty
Issue date: 6/25/08 Section: Sports
Less than a week ago, SIUE's wrestling program was set to move forward into Division I play under head coach Pat McNamara. Plans were also in place for a new 3,000 seat facility to house the team.
Now, McNamara announced his resignation Monday, effective June 30, after one season with SIUE. The announcement comes after a major donor canceled his $2 million contribution to the new $10 million wrestling and volleyball arena, effectively canceling its construction.
SIUE assistant Athletic Director Sandy Montgomery confirmed that the funding for the arena was no longer available. She added the university's support of the wrestling program would not change.
"We are obviously going to continue to sponsor the wrestling program," Montogomery said. "None of the funding that the university has planned for the program has changed."
SIUE Athletic Director Brad Hewitt could not be reached for comment as of Tuesday afternoon.
McNamara said the loss of funding for the arena did play a part in his decision, but he did not want to go into details. He confirmed that the events leading up to his resignation have been going on for a while.
"I feel bad that I have to move on," McNamara said. "I definitely hope the best for the university moving forward."
The donor, Mark Mestemacher, owner of the Fairmont City firm Ceres Consulting, declined comment on the situation, other than to say McNamara was an "awesome coach."
McNamara will join the Edwardsville Wrestling Club July 1, coaching alongside Mestemacher, who has been with the non-profit club since 1993.
McNamara recruited SIUE?freshman wrestler Eric Pretto to the university, and Pretto said he was sad to see his coach go.
"There are a lot of things going on behind the scenes that I can't really go into," Pretto said. "SIUE lost probably the best coach they ever had, not just in wrestling, but in all sports."
Per NCAA regulations, programs moving to Division I are not eligible to compete in post-season play for four years. However, two teams, one men's and one women's, are able to be "fast-tracked", and they can compete in post-season play after two seasons. The wrestling program was not selected, as SIUE elected to fast-track the men's soccer team, as well as women's softball.
The Ohio Valley Conference, which SIUE joined two weeks ago, does not offer wrestling. At the OVC press conference, it was announced that they would continue to look for a conference home for the wrestling program, as well as men's soccer.
During the past season, McNamara led the wrestling team to a 1-11 record. At the time he was hired, his experience as an assistant coach at the Universities of Missouri and Virginia, both Division I schools, was a selling point when projecting the program forward into Division I.
Now, McNamara announced his resignation Monday, effective June 30, after one season with SIUE. The announcement comes after a major donor canceled his $2 million contribution to the new $10 million wrestling and volleyball arena, effectively canceling its construction.
SIUE assistant Athletic Director Sandy Montgomery confirmed that the funding for the arena was no longer available. She added the university's support of the wrestling program would not change.
"We are obviously going to continue to sponsor the wrestling program," Montogomery said. "None of the funding that the university has planned for the program has changed."
SIUE Athletic Director Brad Hewitt could not be reached for comment as of Tuesday afternoon.
McNamara said the loss of funding for the arena did play a part in his decision, but he did not want to go into details. He confirmed that the events leading up to his resignation have been going on for a while.
"I feel bad that I have to move on," McNamara said. "I definitely hope the best for the university moving forward."
The donor, Mark Mestemacher, owner of the Fairmont City firm Ceres Consulting, declined comment on the situation, other than to say McNamara was an "awesome coach."
McNamara will join the Edwardsville Wrestling Club July 1, coaching alongside Mestemacher, who has been with the non-profit club since 1993.
McNamara recruited SIUE?freshman wrestler Eric Pretto to the university, and Pretto said he was sad to see his coach go.
"There are a lot of things going on behind the scenes that I can't really go into," Pretto said. "SIUE lost probably the best coach they ever had, not just in wrestling, but in all sports."
Per NCAA regulations, programs moving to Division I are not eligible to compete in post-season play for four years. However, two teams, one men's and one women's, are able to be "fast-tracked", and they can compete in post-season play after two seasons. The wrestling program was not selected, as SIUE elected to fast-track the men's soccer team, as well as women's softball.
The Ohio Valley Conference, which SIUE joined two weeks ago, does not offer wrestling. At the OVC press conference, it was announced that they would continue to look for a conference home for the wrestling program, as well as men's soccer.
During the past season, McNamara led the wrestling team to a 1-11 record. At the time he was hired, his experience as an assistant coach at the Universities of Missouri and Virginia, both Division I schools, was a selling point when projecting the program forward into Division I.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
John
posted 6/26/08 @ 11:33 PM CST
i like how they say they havent changed how they are going to fund wrestle... o wait maybe we should find out how much they are. o ya they arent givin them any money to work with what liars
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