EUGENE, Ore. – The Bushnell University Athletic Department announces the hiring of Dylan Costello as the first Director of Wrestling and Head Men's Wrestling Coach for the Beacons.
Costello will lead the men's and women's wrestling programs which become the 18th and 19th intercollegiate sports at Bushnell.
Athletic Director Corey Anderson said, "I am excited and blessed to announce Dylan Costello as the first Director and Head Men's Wrestling Coach for Bushnell University. Dylan's passion, enthusiasm, recruiting experience and shared vision of what Bushnell Wrestling can do for our campus and community makes him the perfect leader for this aspiring program.
Bushnell President Dr. Joseph Womack said, "As we look to add men's and women's wrestling to our successful collegiate athletic offerings, I am pleased to have found a wonderful fit in Coach Costello. He is the ideal candidate to lead our new program with a mission-focused approach in the classroom and on the mat. We are excited to welcome Dylan and his wife Sabrina to campus and look forward to great things."
Costello comes to Bushnell after spending the previous six seasons as an assistant coach at Northwestern College (Iowa), an NAIA athletics powerhouse. In his role at Northwestern, he was instrumental in the daily operations of the wrestling team and was responsible for running all practices, managing athlete nutrition, and facilitating all technique sessions.
"Coach Costello comes from a highly respected, faith based, NAIA institution where he competed at and coached for over ten years," added Anderson. "He has been emersed in a wrestling program that is nationally known for their toughness, success, and integrity. While he has not yet been a head coach, Bushnell will be the perfect place for him to continue to grow professionally as both a director and head coach."
Costello said, "I am beyond excited and incredibly blessed for the opportunity to start wrestling at Bushnell University. I want to thank Corey Anderson, Jocelyn Hubbs, and President Womack for their belief in me and for the immense support they are already giving this young program."
As an assistant coach and admissions counselor at NWC, Costello was heavily involved in recruiting a team that during his tenure saw ten wrestlers qualify for the NAIA National Championships while earning multiple All-GPAC honors.
"The community and mission at Bushnell drew me in from the very first phone call," added Costello. "I knew it was where I needed to be. We are going to build something great here and I am honored for the privilege of bringing College wrestling back to Eugene!"
Known as a passionate and enthusiastic coach, Costello brings with him a strong love for the sport and love for the Lord that will serve him well at Bushnell.
"I love the sport of Wrestling," said Costello. "The Lord has used the sport to mold me into the man I am today. I am always in pursuit of finding ways to perfect technique, build grit, and get the most out of my athletes, but above all else, I cherish the opportunity to build relationships with the athletes and share my faith with them. Wrestling is more than just winning matches. It is about people, and a shared passion for constant growth and improvement in all aspects of life so that we can be ready for whatever God may call us to do."
A former collegiate wrestler himself at Northwestern, he was a three-time letter winner, a team captain and an NAIA Champion of Character Award Winner. He earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from Northwestern College and went on to earn a Master of Arts in Humanities from American Public University in West Virginia.
Anderson said, "While I am excited to work with Dylan on this journey together, it is the greater wrestling community in Lane County that I am most excited for. Both Coach Costello and Bushnell Athletics have a very unique opportunity in bringing collegiate wrestling back to the Eugene/Springfield area. It has been almost 20 years since the last collegiate program competed in the area and now we will get the opportunity to showcase the sport to a hungry and enthusiastic fan base right here at Bushnell University."
Costello will officially begin at Bushnell on July 1, 2026, with a little over a year to recruit and prepare for the first varsity season, beginning in Fall 2027. Costello will also help with the selection and hiring of a Head Women's Wrestling Coach in the near future.
