KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With one of the best rosters in the region and one of the top programs still in its infancy, Avila Athletics is proud to introduce Darick Lapaglia as the new head coach of Avila women's wrestling.

"I am thrilled to welcome Darick to lead our women's wrestling program," said Shawn Summe, Avila's Vice President of Athletics and Student Affairs/Chief Mission Integration Officer. "Darick has a great knowledge and recruiting base in the Kansas City area and has a history of leadership that will help grow our program. A great wrestler himself, I am confident that Darick will continue to develop our student-athletes in the classroom and community and help them become the best athletes on the mat that they can be."

Lapaglia has been in a fixture in the area's wrestling scene. A graduate of the University of Central Missouri, Lapaglia was a two-time NCAA DII All-American, a three-time USA Freestyle All-American and a USA Folkstyle National Champion.

"I am so excited for this opportunity," Lapaglia said. "I'm very grateful to Dr. Jett and Shawn Summe and I cannot wait to continue to grow women's wrestling in the Kansas City area and make Avila one of the best programs in the region."

In addition to his exploits on the mat, Lapaglia comes to Avila after a strong eight-year stint as an assistant coach at Fort Osage High School.

While coaching at Fort Osage, Lapaglia coached 11 individual Missouri state champions and five top-10 team finishes.

Additionally, Lapaglia coached Avila's national runner-up, Haley Ward, at Fort Osage, where Ward became the program's first four-time state champion while under Lapaglia's tutelage.

The 2026-27 season will be the sixth for the Avila women's wrestling program. Lapaglia will hit the ground running as he continues to build a growing sport in the area.