Wheeling Tabs Two-Time National Champion Daniel Ownbey as Head Coach
12/21/2020
WHEELING - Wheeling University has selected four-time All-American and two-time National Champion Daniel Ownbey to lead the wrestling program announced President Ginny R. Favede Monday morning.
Ownbey arrives in the northern panhandle after spending this past season as an assistant coach at Division II Newberry College in South Carolina. Prior to that, he had coaching stints at Greensboro College, UNC Pembroke and Ferrum College.
During his coaching experience, Ownbey has helped tutor a combined 17 regional placers and seven national qualifiers.
"I am excited for the wrestling program and the potential it has to offer under Daniel's guidance," Favede said. "His success as a student-athlete along with his previous coaching experience has prepared him for this opportunity. I know he will provide our student-athletes with the same commitment and dedication that he has given to the sport of wrestling for so many years."
"It is an honor to be named the head wrestling coach at Wheeling University," Ownbey said. "I am grateful for the opportunity given to me and I am excited to get to work. I want to thank President Favede and Carrie Hanna for this opportunity and entrusting me with this successful program."
"Wheeling Wrestling has a strong tradition of competitors and leaders," he added. "I plan on building on that and bringing home more National Champions and All-Americans to the already successful history of the program while also producing honorable and respectful young men."
Last season at Newberry, Ownbey was part of a program that placed five wrestlers at the NCAA Super Region 2 Tournament and had four qualifiers for the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships.
Ownbey helped with the continued development of 2019 National Runner-Up and 2020 Super Region II Wrestler of the Year Isaiah Royal. Royal, who wrestled at the 141-poind weight class, went 23-2 during the 2019-20 season with both losses coming to Division I opponents.
Entering the 2020-21 season, the OpenMat had ranked Newberry eighth in its preseason poll and the Wolves were picked to win the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) after winning the league title in 2020.
As a student-athlete, Ownbey was a four-time All-American and a two-time national champion in the 141-pound weight class at UNC Pembroke. He became the school's first-ever two-time champion, its third four-time All-American, and graduated in 2015 as the program's third-winningest wrestler with a career mark of 133-18 (.881). Ownbey was the Region II Wrestler of the Year in 2015 and a finalist for the NCAA Division II Wrestler of the Year that season.
A native of Asheville, North Carolina, Ownbey was a two-time state champion at Enka High School, where he won 110 of his last 111 high school matches.
Ownbey earned his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Sports Science from UNC Pembroke in 2015.
What they are saying about Daniel Ownbey:
"Daniel has been a cornerstone in our program since his arrival. He is a goal-oriented purpose driven individual who will do great things in the sport of wrestling. I am excited for his future and excited for Wheeling University Wrestling." – Cy Wainwright, Head Wrestling Coach, Newberry College
"As a competitor, Daniel Ownbey had high goals and put in the hard work required to excel. I have no doubt he'll do the same in his new role as Wheeling's head wrestling coach." - Mark Harris, Head Wrestling Coach, Enka High School
