WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa - Southeastern Community College has named Kolton Kersten as the next head coach of the Blackhawks wrestling program.
Kersten joins SCC after spending the past three seasons as an assistant coach at Iowa Central Community College, where he helped develop one of the nation's top junior college wrestling programs. His coaching experience also includes Midland University and Northwestern College, giving him experience at both the junior college and four-year levels.
A native of southwest Iowa, Kersten wrestled at Iowa Central before continuing his collegiate career at Midland University. He earned All-America honors after beginning his career as a walk-on and later became a two-time All-American, overcoming a life-threatening battle with bacterial meningitis to return to the mat and finish among the nation's best.
"It is clear he has a vision for where he wants this program to go," said John McVey, athletic director. "He's competitive, disciplined, and understands that building a successful program starts with developing the right habits every day."
Kersten said his priority is building a program that challenges student-athletes to grow both as wrestlers and as people.
"Everything you do, do it to the best of your ability, whether that's in the classroom, the weight room, or the wrestling room," Kersten said. "Just give it everything you've got. That's what I expect."
As SCC continues building its young wrestling program, Kersten said he wants to create a culture centered on accountability, discipline, and continuous improvement.
"The goal is to build a championship program," he said. "We want student-athletes who are willing to work, compete, and keep getting better every day. If everyone buys into that, we're going to accomplish great things together."
Recruiting will begin close to home.
Kersten believes Iowa has long been one of the state's strongest wrestling regions and is excited to provide local student-athletes with an opportunity to continue competing while earning a college degree. He also hopes to attract talented wrestlers from across the country who are looking for a place to develop both academically and athletically.
"There are a lot of talented wrestlers in this area," Kersten said. "Some may get overlooked, but that doesn't mean they can't become something special. Our job is to help them reach their potential."
SCC President Dr. Michael Ash said Kersten's experience and commitment to students make him a strong addition to the college's athletics program.
"We're pleased to welcome Kolton to SCC," Ash said. "He brings a genuine interest in helping students succeed and we look forward to seeing him build our wrestling program."
As head coach, Kersten will oversee all aspects of the wrestling program, including recruiting, practice planning, competition strategy, player development, and academic success. He hopes to build a program known for discipline, hard work, and providing student-athletes with opportunities to compete at a high level while preparing for what's next after SCC.
