BLOOMSBURG, Pa. — Bloomsburg University Director of Athletics Michael McFarland has announced the hiring of Jason Mester as the new head coach for wrestling. Mester comes to Bloomsburg from Central Michigan University (CMU) where he was an assistant coach for the Chippewas.
 
"This is a great opportunity for me and my family and I am looking forward to continuing the strong wrestling tradition at Bloomsburg," said Mester.  "My goal is to inspire, motivate and work to see the young men I will be entrusted with coaching achieve their goals, both in school and on the mat."
 
"There is a lot of talent returning from last year's team that finished ranked in the top 15," Mester continued. "I can't wait to meet the guys and get working on the 2013-14 season."
 
Mester, a graduate of Central Michigan, spent one season as the Chippewas' top assistant coach after two seasons as the assistant coach at the University of Missouri. While with the Tigers he helped lead the team to their first Big 12 Tournament championship in 2012 after a runner-up finish in 2011. Missouri boasted a school-record four individual Big 12 champions in 2012 and qualified an individual for the NCAA Championships in all 10 weight classes.

Prior to Missouri, Mester spent five seasons as the strength and conditioning coach at the University of Nebraska. He worked directly with 14 All-Americans and three NCAA Championships finalists—including two national champions—and was part of a staff that led Nebraska to a pair of fourth-place team finishes at the NCAA Championships.
 
"Today is a great day to be a Husky and I am proud to welcome Jason, his wife Lory, and their two children (daughter Charlotte and son Cecil) to the Bloomsburg community," said McFarland.  "Everyone was impressed with Jason's vision for the program, leadership style, and how he plans to mold young men in and outside of the wrestling room," McFarland added. "His style and personality will fit in perfectly in this wonderful community."

One of the top wrestlers in CMU history, Mester is tied for 11th in school history with 104 career victories from 2001-04. He won three Mid-American Conference championships (2001, 2003, 2004) at 141 pounds and was an All-American in both 2003 and 2004. A three-time recipient of the Chick Sherwood Award as CMU's Most Valuable Wrestler, Mester was named MAC Wrestler of the Year as a senior.

Mester's career winning percentage of .806 (104-25 overall) still ranks fourth overall in program history, and he owns two of the top eight single-season winning percentages in CMU history: .897 (26-3 overall, No. 6 all-time) in 2002-03 and .891 (33-4 overall, No. 8 all-time) in 2003-04.

Mester earned a sport studies degree from CMU in 2004. He spent his first year following graduation as an assistant coach at CMU, helping lead the Chippewas to MAC regular season and tournament titles and a 12th-place finish at the NCAA Championships in 2005.
 
Mester takes over for John Stutzman who was named the head coach at Buffalo in May.