Boise State wrestling hires former Cal State Bakersfield coach

The Boise State wrestling program named Mike Mendoza as the replacement for Greg Randall and its third head coach in 44 years.

“This wrestling program has a long history of success,” Athletic Director Curt Apsey said Friday in a press release. “In going through the search process for a new head coach, it became increasingly evident that Mike Mendoza had the energy and tenacity to get this program back to where we know it can be — competing in the upper echelon of collegiate wrestling.”

Mendoza graduated from Bakersfield in 1999 and spent 14 years with the Roadrunners, including the past six as coach of the Pac-12 program. A three-time NCAA Championship qualifier as an athlete, he oversaw six All-Americans, 10 Pac-12 champions and 55 NCAA qualifiers as a coach. Bakersfield went 11-4 in 2015-16, earning their first Top 25 ranking in 15 years and finishing a league-best 4-1 in Pac-12 duals.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE BASEBALL: Senior right fielder Ryan Johnson (Timberline High) made the D2CCA West Region second team.

This story was originally published May 20, 2016 at 11:41 PM with the headline "Boise State wrestling hires former Cal State Bakersfield coach."