GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Colorado Mesa Director of Athletics Dr. Kimberly Miller announced the official hiring of Mike Mendoza as the Head Wrestling Coach on Wednesday (Nov. 30) afternoon. Mendoza had been serving as the assistant wrestling coach and overseeing the program's operations since former head coach Chuck Pipher retired in mid-October.
 
"It is an honor to be the next head wrestling coach here at Colorado Mesa," Mendoza said. "I am thankful for the opportunity Coach Pipher and the previous administration gave me to be a part of this program three and a half years ago and am grateful for the opportunity Dr. Miller and President Marshall have given me to lead this program as their head coach."

Mendoza has been with the program since 2019 after making stops at Northeastern Junior College, Boise State, Cal State Bakersfield, and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foe Adams State. He spent time as the head coach at Northeastern JC where he elevated the program from an 0-6 dual record when he took over to an 11-3 mark in his final season. He was also the head coach at Boise State the year prior to the school dropping the program.

During his time with the Mavericks, Mendoza helped coach and recruit a barrage of wrestlers that helped the team win back-to-back Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference titles in 2020 and 2021. He also helped guide Fred Green to an NCAA National Championship at 165 pounds during the 2020 COVID season.
 
"There is a great history of success here with the wrestling program and I look forward to continuing to build on that success both academically and athletically," Mendoza added.
 
In a subsequent hiring, Bo Pipher has been named the Assistant Wrestling Coach. Bo, nephew of Chuck Pipher, was a three-time Colorado State Champion and wrestled for Cael Sanderson at Penn State for four seasons before graduating.
 
Pipher came to the Mavericks last season as an assistant and helped guide Dawson Collins and Collin Metzgar to the NCAA National Championships.
 
"I'm really excited and grateful to earn this position and to continue to help our team grow," Pipher said. "I look forward to continuing to work with Coach Mendoza in building the Maverick program into a national title contender."
 
The Mavericks will take on rival Western Colorado tomorrow evening in Gunnison at 6:00pm.