Davidson head wrestling coach Bob Patnesky announced the addition of Michael Childs to the staff as an assistant wrestling coach Tuesday.

Childs, a four-year letter winner as a student-athlete at Drexel, brings a wide range of experiences to the Wildcats.

"Michael comes to us with a wealth of knowledge," said Patnesky. "He has been around wrestling all of his life and is very excited for the opportunity to coach here. He will contribute to our program in a variety of ways."

The Wayne, Pa. native spent six years as a high school head wrestling coach beginning in 2001. Childs began at Friends Select School in Philadelphia where he doubled participation rates and coached a wrestler to a top-12 finish at the National Prep Tournament. He then served as the head coach at Springfield Township H.S. in Erdenheim, Pa. for four years, where he increased participation rates and coached a wrestler to a fourth-place finish at the state championships.

Most recently, Childs was assisting at his high school alma mater, Radnor, where as a student he posted a 91-19 record and a top-eight finish at the state championships, and was a freestyle state champion and a two-time Keystone State Games Champion.

He spent the 2008-09 academic year at Penn State, where was a volunteer coach for the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club while serving as an academic tutor and mentor for student-athletes.

Childs gained international experience beginning in 2007, serving as the manager and head wrestling coach at the Grip House in Glasgow, Scotland, a Muay Thai/mixed martial arts gym. He oversaw daily operation of the gym and trained professional fighters from throughout the UK and Europe in wrestling.

Childs is the son of Jack Childs, who has been the head coach at Drexel for the past 35 years and has been inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Pennsylvania Chapter and the Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame. Michael competed for his father at Drexel, and graduated with a degree in psychology in 2003.

Childs is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is currently pursuing a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification.