Stillwater, Okla. - Oklahoma State's wrestling team announced the hiring of long-time assistant  Mark Branch to assistant head coach, it was announced today.     "This is a great opportunity for me and my career," Branch said. "I never   thought it would have happened the way it did. The thing that I have wanted   to do was to move up in my career. My heart is at Oklahoma State and that is   what makes it better."     Branch spent four seasons on the OSU bench as assistant coach before   receiving the promotion. He was a two-time NCAA Champion and a four-time   national finalist, one of only 11 wrestlers to accomplish that feat.     "I didn't plan on it being open when it was because I don't pay attention to   those details," Branch said. "For the past couple of years I have kept my   eyes open for an opportunity to advance, whether it was at OSU or somewhere   else. When that opportunity came forward it was twice as rewarding because I   could stay here and advance."     He finished his career with a 99-19 record while winning three conference   titles. During his senior season he blistered the competition, winning all 32   of his matches and capping his career off with a 5-3 win over Brandon Slay of   Pennsylvania in the finals.     In addition to his intensity on the mat, he was also an outstanding student.   He was named to the NWCA Academic All-America team four times and was also   the recipient of the Big 12 and NCAA postgraduate scholarship.     "We opened the position and took applications and everything came back saying   that Mark Branch was my best guy," head coach John Smith said. "One thing   that I feel really good about is the experience he has had over the past   several years.     "It's always good to be able to look at home for someone and to hire an   Oklahoma State graduate," Smith said. "He has his masters degree, was one of   our student athletes and was the Male Student Athlete of the Year his senior   year."     In 1994, he won one of the most difficult titles in NCAA history. He entered   the NCAAs with an 8-9 record and battled his way to his first NCAA title,   during which, he also helped the Cowboys capture the team title. He is one of   only five Cowboys to win the NCAA title as a freshman.