The University of Central Missouri removed the interim tag, and named Justin Ensign the Head Wrestling Coach for the 2011-12 season, effective immediately.

He served the past year as the interim head coach, helping the Mules to a 7-7 dual record with three individual national qualifiers, finishing tied for 30th in the nation.

Ensign served the previous two years as a graduate assistant coach under Robin Ersland, who left UCM for the head position at Minot State (N.D.) following the season. During those two campaigns the Mules compiled a 14-16 dual record, while finishing in the top 25 at the National Championships both seasons (18th in 2009, 22nd in 2010). Ensign also helped guide the Mules to five individual All-American performances.

Ensign came to UCM from Division I Wagner University in Staten Island, N.Y., where he coached for one season after a four-year career for the Seahawks. During his career there, he was named team MVP two times. He spent two seasons ranked in the top 5 in the CAA and was a two-year team captain, and two-time Iron Man award winner. He was a four-year starter, twice at 141 and two at 149 pounds. He was coached his first two years by Joe Ryan and spent his last two under current Tiffin University head coach Doug Jesse.

As a coach, Ensign spent the 2007-08 season as the lone assistant, helping the team finish fourth at the Virginia duals. He also had two NCAA-I East Region third place winners.

The Cherry Hill, N.J. native earned his bachelor’s degree in Childhood Education and Sociology from Wagner in 2007 and is working on his master’s in Sport Administration at UCM.