Kansas Wrestling Forums General Discussion College BREAKING NEWS!!! FEGOLA OUT AT DANA @ NEW SCHOOL!

Fergola takes the reins of NIACC wrestling program

By SCOTT HOLLAND / Of The Globe Gazette


MASON CITY — North Iowa Area Community College took its final step towards returning its wrestling program by naming a head coach on Tuesday.

NIACC named Richard Fergola, previously the head coach of Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, as the man to lead the Trojans’ return to the mat.

“The hiring of coach Fergola represents a significant step in returning a rich athletic tradition to NIACC and the region,’’ Dr. Michael Morrison, NIACC president said. “We are exceptionally pleased to have attracted Coach Fergola with his standing and reputation in wrestling.’’

Fergola led Dana College to a fourth-place finish at the NAIA Championships this season as a first-year head coach.

Fergola also was named Great Plains Athletic Conference Coach of the Year this season.

“I noticed the 70s championship banner, and I hope to bring one back to join it soon,’’ Fergola said. “I expect to win, and win quickly.’’

Fergola served as an assistant coach at Dana when the Vikings won the 2006 NAIA wrestling title.

Coach Fergola also coached at Neosho County Community College in Kansas, before moving on to Dana.

“We’re starting to see a lot of growth in collegiate wrestling, and the chance to be a part of a program just starting out is something I couldn’t pass up,’’ Fergola said.

Fergola has also won a championship as well, competing, and leading Garden City Community College to an NJCAA wrestling title in 1992.

“Having wrestled and coached at the junior college level in the past, I believe I have a good understanding of what it takes,’’ he said.

Fergola is ready to get things rolling at NIACC, hitting the recruiting trail vigorously.

“I have my eyes open nationally,’’ the coach said. “I have connections in Kansas and Nebraska as well as Iowa. Also, this is an area with a great tradition, so hopefully we can get some local kids as well.’’

Fergola had a chance to spread his NIACC word before an official announcement was even made to several wrestlers.

“We had a border battle between Nebraska and Iowa, and I talked to a couple of kids, one from Forest City that went 52-0 this season about their interest in wrestling,’’ Fergola said. “Of course, this was before an announcement was made, so I didn’t tell them I would be the new NIACC coach.’’

Fergola also is already planning big things for his fledgling program.

“Schedule-wise, we want to wrestle the best,’’ he said. “When kids go to nationals, I want them to think that that isn’t the toughest meet they’ve been in. We obviously want to wrestle Iowa Central, since they’re the defending champions, as well as Ellsworth. We know schools want us in their open tournaments, so now it’s all about getting a dual schedule set up.’’

Coach Fergola also has his sights set on NIACC hosting a tournament.

“I helped plan and coordinate an open at Dana, so I would like to do that here,’’ he said. “I’m already looking at the first week in November. There isn’t a lot of open tournaments scheduled then, so I think it would be a good opportunity to get some teams in here.’’

Fergola will be joined in Mason City be wife Marcy, who will graduate from Dana wih a degree in seconday education, sons Anthony (10) and Rocco (2) and daughter, Taylor (6).

Congrats coach Fergola out of anybody you earned it
Jake Keplar

Congrats Rich!

What am I missing? Why would he go from Dana that has success, scholarships, money, etc. to a JC?

24/7

Not totally sure on that, could be to move closer to his wife's family or any number of factors. I also know that JC you have more scholarships to my understanding usually, and have a little more flexibility as to when you can and can't talk to athletes.

I think personally it would mean more to him to get a program successful on his own docket as the head man.

Kansas now has 6 Head Coaches at the Junior College Level though which is pretty neat.

Leaving Dana was a very hard decision. My wife and I had to think it over for a while. It is a job offer that I could not refuse. We loved it here at Dana for the past 3 seasons and in the NAIA. We will miss it here, but the future is very bright at NIACC and we are very excited about the move. We will be much closer to my wife's family and the support and enthusiasm that they have in Mason City right now for college wrestling is awesome! They are building a brand new athletic facility which will house a brand new wrestling facility. My athletes here at Dana are awesome and I will miss them very much. Thank you for the compliments.

Thank you coach Fergola...now what will happen at Dana search wise or will the automatically name a successor?