Erik Wince will rejoin the Davidson wrestling program as an assistant coach, head coach Bob Patnesky announced Tuesday.

Wince previously served as an assistant on Patnesky's staff for nearly three seasons after joining the Wildcats during the 2005-06 season. Working primarily with the upper weights, Wince coached five Southern Conference place winners and a two-time SoCon finalist.

"I want to first thank Jim Murphy, Scott Applegate, and Bobby Patnesky for giving me the opportunity to return to coaching at the Division I level and Davidson College," said Wince. "This is a great institution rich in tradition both academically and athletically, and it is an honor to be a part of it all again after a five year hiatus. I look forward to working alongside Coach Patnesky as we continue to build the Wildcat wrestling program into what we both believe it can be. I greatly enjoy working with student-athletes of this caliber and Ihope that I can have a major impact on these wrestlers as they work toward their goals in the classroom and on the wrestling mat."

Since 2007, Wince has been the head coach wrestling coach and head strength and conditioning coach at Forsyth Country Day School in Lewisville, N.C. He was an accomplished wrestler at Gardner-Webb, qualifying for the NCAA Championships in 2003.

"Erik is going to bring a great wealth of knowledge to the program," said Patnesky. "He was my first assistant here when I took over the head coaching position, and I feel very comfortable with him coming back. We are not going to miss a beat, and I really feel that he is going to help take our program to the next level."

In five years at Forsyth Country Day, Wince was named the Piedmont Athletic Conference of Independent Schools (PACIS) Wrestling Coach of the Year three times, as he guided his team to two NC Independent School Athletic Association state titles and one state runner-up finish. Over the past three seasons, his wrestlers reached the state finals 19 times. Wince also coached a three-time Prep National All-American and a two-time Prep National All-American.

"Erik has been successful head coach at the national prep level and he has great connections for recruiting," said Patnesky. "We recruit within the national prep level quite a bit, so those connections will help us out tremendously."

Wince was elected as the USA Wrestling State Chairman for North Carolina for the 2011-12 term and was previously elected to the National Prep Wrestling Advisory Board for the 2010-12 term.

Wince also has national team head coaching experience, serving as the Junior National Duals coach in 2006, the Cadet Nationals coach in 2007, and as the Junior Nationals coach from 2008-10.

Before his stint as an assistant coach at Davidson, Wince taught physical education and health at Hickory High School (2004-05) and was the head coach of both the wrestling and cross country teams.

Wince graduated from Gardner-Webb in 2004 with a degree in physical education. During his career with the Runnin" Bulldogs, Wince recorded more than 80 collegiate wins and finished his senior campaign ranked among the national leaders with an impressive 27-5 mark. He qualified for the NCAA Championships as a junior in 2003, finishing the season with a 21-14 overall mark.

Wince is a certified USA Wrestling Bronze Level National Team Coach and USA Weightlifting Sport Performance Coach Level 1.

At Davidson he replaces Michael Childs, who was an assistant coach for the Wildcats thepast two seasons.