Barber Resigns Wrestling Position -- Matzek Named Interim Head Coach
July 31, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS -- Jeff Swenson, Augsburg College
athletic director, announced today that Sam Barber, wrestling head
coach since March 2007, has resigned his position as of July 30, 2008.
Mark Matzek ’05, current assistant head coach, was named interim head coach until a national search is completed.
As an Auggie wrestler, Matzek was part of two national championship
teams and earned 133-pound All-American honors three times and won two
national titles. He finished his career with a 129-21 record and was a
three-time NWCA Scholar All-American. As an assistant coach with the
Augsburg wrestling team, the Auggies claimed one national title and two
third place finishes with 20 All-Americans and four National Champions.
“Mark Matzek was one of the most outstanding student athletes in both
competition and in the classroom,” said Swenson. “His experience and
leadership will carry the team forward through this transition period.”
Barber succeeded Swenson, an Augsburg 1979 graduate, who had been head
coach of the Auggies for 25 seasons. During Barber’s tenure as
assistant coach he had been part of three national championship squads
and two national runner-up squads. Last season, under his leadership,
the team finished in third place at the NCAA Division III national
championships. In 2006, Barber was named Division III Co-National
Assistant Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches
Association.
“I hired Sam as an assistant coach and have watched him develop his
leadership capabilities and contribute to the national success of the
Auggie wrestlers,” said Swenson. “I wish him the best of luck in his
future endeavors.”
The Auggie wrestlers have enjoyed a national reputation as a
small-college powerhouse, winning a record-10 NCAA Division III
national championships, with 20 consecutive years of top-four finishes.