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Eric Van Kley
Head coach
Eric Van Kley, who started the wrestling program at the University of Great Falls ( Mont.) in 2004 and turned it into an NAIA title contender, is in his first season as head wrestling coach at Central College.
Van Kley also served as the Great Falls athletics director in 2006-07.
“The potential of the wrestling program at Central is what attracted me,” Van Kley said. “As I looked at the landscape, the outstanding quality of the athletic department and Central as a whole is extremely impressive. There are several strong athletic programs and a very proud tradition with Dutch athletics. Being able to join that is something that excites me.”
A Rock Valley, Iowa native, Van Kley is an honors graduate of Minnesota State-Mankato where he was a three-time letterwinner for the NCAA Division II program. He served as captain for the 2000 team which placed sixth at the national meet and was a two-time Scholastic All-America honoree, while receiving the team's Maverick Achievement Award. Van Kley is completing a master's degree from Duquesne University ( Pa.).
After three seasons as assistant wrestling coach at The Dalles High School in Oregon, he spent a year as assistant coach for Division I Millersville University ( Pa.) while also serving as Leadership Program Coordinator for the National Wrestling Coaches Association. He worked with a Millersville squad that won the Eastern Regional dual meet title and placed second at the Virginia Duals.
At Great Falls Van Kley recruited a team with 45 athletes this past season. He compiled a 28-13 dual meet record over three seasons. His wrestlers earned NAIA all-America distinction 13 times with three top-10 national team finishes. In 2006-07 the Argos won the West Region championship and finished sixth at the NAIA national tournament. Van Kley was named the NAIA West Region coach of the year. His 2005-06 team received NAIA Top 10 academic distinction.
“Eric has all the qualities we were looking for in a leader for our wrestling program,” athletics director Al Dorenkamp said. “He's done a great job of starting a program from scratch, he's proven he's a great recruiter and he fits in with the mission and values of Central College.”
The Dutch are not strangers to wrestling success, with 10 top-20 NCAA Division III team finishes, including a second-place showing in 1983-84, four NCAA individual titles and four Iowa Conference team championships. Central wrestlers have received all-America honors 42 times.
Since 2005 Van Kley was also the Team Montana Junior and Cadet National Team Director, supervising a residential training camp with more than 100 wrestlers and a staff of 25 coaches and counselors. He was also elected as a board member for Montana USA Wrestling.
As the Great Falls athletics director he oversaw an 11-sport program and was named the university's staff employee of the year in 2006.
Van Kley and his wife Sarah, also an Iowa native, are the parents of a son, Jackson, born last summer.
Van Kley on why Dutch wrestling will be successful
To contact Eric Van Kley
Phone: (641) 628-5422
E-mail: vankleye@central.edu
Jason Zastrow
Assistant coach
Jason Zastrow is in his first season as assistant wrestling coach at Central College.
Zastrow was an NCAA Division III qualifier at 174 pounds in 2006-07 for Wartburg College, where he compiled a 53-27 career mark and placed third at the Iowa Conference tournament. A Blaine, Minn. native, Zastrow has served as a camp instructor.
“The biggest thing Jason brings is a successful wrestling background,” coach Eric Van Kley said. “He’s got a terrific work ethic. His former coaches all speak of his determination and strong character. He’s doing great things already.”
E-mail: zastrowj@central.edu
Matt Diehl
Assistant coach
Matt Diehl is in his 17th season as a member of the Central staff and served as the program's head coach from 1996-2004. He's now a volunteer assistant.
A former all-American for the Dutch, Diehl is a 1987 Central graduate. He received a master's degree in exercise and sport science at the University of Wis.-La Crosse, where he also spent a year as assistant coach.
Prior to returning to Central in 1991, Diehl was head coach at Iowa Falls High School for two years and was a junior high coach in Audubon for one year.
Diehl, an Osceola native, was a two-time NCAA Division III qualifier at 118 pounds, earning all-America honors and winning an Iowa Conference title in 1987, helping the Dutch place eighth in the nation.
E-mail: diehlm@central.edu
Phone: (641) 628-5230