Manheim, PA – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) is proud to announce that Omi Acosta of Life University is the recipient of the 2024 NAIA Men's National Coach of the Year award. Selected by his peers, this prestigious award is presented to a coach who has demonstrated outstanding effort throughout the regular season in developing and elevating their program both on campus and within the community. The award will be presented in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, at the NAIA Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, July 26. The banquet is held in conjunction with the NWCA's Annual Convention. Tickets may be purchased by
clicking here. Defense Soap, the official hygiene partner of the NWCA, is the presenting sponsor of the award.
Guy Sako, founder and CEO of Defense Soap expressed his pride in partnering with the NWCA to continue its mission of keeping wrestlers on the mat through hygiene products and educational resources.
Coach Omi Acosta took over as the Head Coach of the Life University Men's Wrestling Team during the 2016-2017 season. Since then, he has produced ten individual NAIA National Champions, 14 NAIA National finalists, 47 NAIA All-Americans, and 78 NAIA National Qualifiers. This past season, Acosta led the Running Eagles to a second-place finish at the NAIA National Championships, bringing home his fourth NAIA Team Trophy. This year's squad also won the NWCA National Duals Championship, defeating the #1 ranked Grand View squad and breaking their 162-win streak against NAIA competition. Acosta also guided the Running Eagles to a perfect 23-0 dual record for the first time.
"It is my honor to recognize Coach Acosta as our 2024 Defense Soap NAIA Men's National Coach of the Year," said Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director. "Omi and his staff epitomize hard work and put competitive teams on the mat every season."
2024 NAIA MEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALISTS
- American Midwest Conference: Caleb McElfresh, Missouri Baptist University
- Appalachian Athletic Conference: Omi Acosta, Life University
- Appalachian Athletic Conference: Travis Patrick, Southeastern University
- Cascade Collegiate Conference: Joey Martinez, Menlo College
- Great Plains Athletic Conference: Dana Vote, Doane College
- Heart of America Athletic Conference: Zach Mullins, Graceland University
- Heart of America Athletic Conference: Nick Mitchell, Grand View University
- Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference: Chuck Kearney, University of Saint Mary
- Mid-South Conference: James Hicks, Cumberland University
- Sooner Athletic Conference: Justin Ensign, Oklahoma City University
- Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference: Wes Maskill, Rochester University
ABOUT THE NWCA The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the sport of wrestling at all levels, with a primary emphasis on developing coaches in academic environments. The three core competencies of the NWCA are coaching development, student-athlete welfare, and the promotion of wrestling.
