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Todd Hibbs Head Coach thibbs@olivetcollege.edu (269) 749-7671

Todd Hibbs begins his fourth season as the head wrestling coach at Olivet College. Hibbs accepted the position as head coach in 2004, though it had already been announced that 2004-05 would be the final year for the program. That decision was reversed by the Olivet College Board of Trustees in January of 2005, and the Comets have responded.

Hibbs has posted a record of 39-10-2 as head coach, while consistently recruiting state-placers, state champions and even multi-time state champions to the program. In 2006, the Comets posted a 16-1-1 record, going undefeated in Division III dual meets and won the NCAA Midwest Regional, as Hibbs was named Midwest Regional Coach of the Year and was a finalist for national Coach of the Year. In 2007, Olivet placed eighth at the NWCA National Duals and sent three wrestlers to the NCAA tournament, the most since the Jare Klein era of Olivet College wrestling. Kyle Vanderhyde became Hibbs’ first All-American, as he placed second at the NCAA Division III National Championships. The Comets have done equally well in the classroom during Hibbs’ tenure, ranking fourth in the nation the past two years in Division III with GPA’s each year higher than 3.30.

“As a coaching staff we are pleased with the commitment our student-athletes are making and we feel like we are headed in the right direction,” said Hibbs. “Still, we have set some very lofty goals, and we will need the continued commitment from everyone – our wrestlers, coaches, alumni and administration in order to reach them.”

The wrestling program will see that continued support from alumni and administration in 2008 when the Comets move into a new wrestling room in The Cutler Events Center. Construction on the new facility began in October 2007. The Cutler Events Center will include a new wrestling room, locker room, coaching offices, a weight room and an indoor training track.

“As we continue toward our goal of winning national titles both athletically and academically, it is clear that The Cutler Events Center will be a huge asset to our student-athletes. All of us in the Olivet College wrestling family are deeply grateful to the generous alumni and hard-working staff members who are making this project a reality,” said Hibbs.

Hibbs also serves as an assistant professor in the Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Sport Department. He has wrestling coaching experience from several Ohio high school programs and previously served as an assistant coach at Michigan State University. As a competitor, Hibbs was a two-time wrestling All-American and two-time scholar All-American at Mount Union College from 1985-89. He was inducted into the Mount Union Athletic Hall of Fame in the fall of 2005. He also was a three-time Wheaton Invitational champion, and three-time Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) champion, while leading his collegiate team to four overall OAC team titles.

Hibbs holds a master’s degree from Michigan State University, with a specialization in sport psychology. He resides in Battle Creek with wife, Karen Kane, and two-year-old daughter, Kayla Juliet.

Kent Roberts Assistant Coach

Kent Roberts joins the Comet staff for his first season as an assistant coach. He is a member of the Michigan Wrestling Hall of Fame, coaching at Sturgis High School during the ’70s and ’80s. While at Sturgis, Roberts compiled a record of 226-26, as his teams placed top ten in the state more than half a dozen times. A lifelong wrestling community contributor, Roberts has served as an officials’ evaluator for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships and an administrator in planning for the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games. Most recently Roberts served as co-founder of the National Civility Center and the co-author of a pair of books on the subject of civility and community involvement.

Jeff Therrian Assistant Coach

Jeff Therrian begins his second season as an assistant coach. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University (MSU) in 1981. While at MSU, Therrian finished in third-place at the Big 10 Championships and qualified for the 1980 NCAA Division I National Championships. He has head coaching experience at Williamston and Mason high schools. While at Williamston, Therrian co-coached his team to the state championship.

John Bauman Student Assistant Coach

John Bauman is in his first season assisting with the Comet wrestling program. He was a four-time state-placer for 1990s powerhouse Constantine High School, winning an individual state title in his senior season. Bauman attended Eastern Michigan University on a wrestling scholarship. With many years experience running camps and freestyle clubs, he will be co-directing Olivet College wrestling camps and clinics, as well as handling some in-season technical instructing.

Joel Rozeboom Student Assistant Coach

Former Comet wrestler, Joel Rozeboom begins his first season as an assistant coach. He was an all-regional performer for the Comets in his senior season. One year from completing his business and biology degrees, Rozeboom will be both coaching in the practice room and traveling with the Comets.

Jeff Wright Student Assistant Coach

Another former Comet wrestler Jeff Wright begins his first season as an assistant coach. Wright, a 2007 graduate of Olivet, was a four-year letterwinner, three-time Scholar All-American and national qualifier. Wright, who will complete student teaching during the fall of 2007, is originally from Escanaba, where he won two Upper Peninsula state titles while in high school.