(Howell, MI) — Cleary University has announced the hiring of Zach Wood as the new Head Wrestling Coach, effective at the conclusion of the NAIA National Championships March 5-7, ushering in an exciting new chapter for the Cougars' wrestling program.
Former head coach Matt Santos announced earlier this season that he was stepping away from the program to pursue other opportunities.
Wood brings a strong combination of collegiate coaching success and recruiting expertise to Cleary. Most recently, he served as Head Assistant Wrestling Coach for Siena Heights University's women's program from 2025-26, and was the Assistant Head Coach at Albion College from 2021 to 2023.
"I'm extremely grateful to (Athletic Director) Max Ballinger and the search committee for this opportunity to lead Cleary University's wrestling program," said Wood. "This is an exciting time, and I'm ready to get to work."
During his time at Albion, Wood mentored 13 Scholar All-Americans and coached nine National Qualifiers. He was instrumental in recruiting 33 student-athletes, helping both the men's and women's programs earn NCAA Division III Top 25 national rankings in 2022.
"Zach is a driven leader who understands what it takes to build a championship-caliber program," said Max Ballinger, Director of Athletics at Cleary University. "His ability to recruit, develop student-athletes academically and competitively, and create strong community partnerships makes him a tremendous addition to our athletics department."
Beyond his collegiate coaching experience, Wood currently serves as Business Manager for MI Revolution, a wrestling and pickleball facility in Highland, where he coordinates training classes and programming for youth wrestling.
Wood continued, "Our focus will be on recruiting quality student-athletes who represent Cleary with pride both on the mat and in the classroom. We're going to develop young men who compete at the highest level, support each other, and understand that success requires sacrifice and commitment. This program will be built on hard work, discipline, and doing things the right way, every single day. I believe in what we can build here. We're going to establish a culture that attracts competitors who want to be part of something special. This community is going to see a program they can be proud of. Let's get to work."
A native of Oxford, Michigan, Wood earned his bachelor's degree in Sports Studies from Lake Erie College in 2018, where he was also a member of the wrestling team.
The Cougars will begin competition under Coach Wood in the upcoming 2026-27 season, with recruiting efforts already underway.
For more information about Cleary University Wrestling, visit clearycougars.com or follow Cleary Athletics and Cleary Wrestling on social media.
