REDDING, Calif. – Simpson University Athletic Director Joe Griffin announced the launch of a new men’s wrestling program to join the university’s intercollegiate sports programs. The university hired wrestling coach Don Williams to establish a team and begin competing this fall.

Williams joins the Red Hawks with 28 years of coaching experience at Anderson High School and plans to continue as a teacher that school.

While at Anderson, Williams coached 15 state medalists, including six finalists and two champions and 32 north section masters champions. He has six team masters titles and 20 Northern Athletic League team championships. As head coach he also had 18 years top five section masters team finishes. In 2002, he was named State Wrestling Coach of the Year by the California Wrestling Coaches’ Association.

“We want to welcome Don to the Simpson University athletic team,” said Griffin. “We feel that his character and level of experience will be a big asset to the university in and outside of athletics. I feel he has a great chance of success with his experience and his contacts that he has built up over the years.”

Williams said he’s excited to coach at Simpson and be a part of the new program.

“I’ve been looking forward to being able to coach at this level for some time,” Williams said. “I think we’re going to make Northern California very proud in a short amount of time.”

As a student at California State University Chico (1978-82), Williams was a four-year starter, a 1981 Conference Champion, a 1981 NCAA Division II All-American, a 1982 Conference Champion and a 1982 NCAA Division II All-American. In 1999, he was inducted into the Chico State University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Men’s wrestling will join Simpson’s twelve other intercollegiate athletic offerings: men’s baseball, women’s volleyball and softball, and men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross-country and men’s and women’s golf.

The men’s wrestling program will compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and Williams will begin recruiting a team immediately.