Grand Valley State Director of Athletics, Keri Becker, announced the hiring of Joey Simcoe as the Lakers' first head men’s wrestling coach since the program was eliminated in 1993. GVSU announced on November 1, 2021 the return of men’s wrestling as a varsity sport. Simcoe most recently completed his 11th year as the head men’s wrestling coach at Tiffin University.
Simcoe, who guided the Tiffin wrestling program from 2010-2022, mentored 35 NCAA qualifiers, including 15 All-Americans and two NCAA Division II individual National Champions. In addition, the Dragons recorded three NCAA Division II top 10 team finishes. Tiffin had nine NCAA Super Regional Champions and five individuals that were honored with an NCAA most falls award. Tiffin also tallied two NWCA National Duals Top 8 finishes during his career and he was named the GMAC Coach of the Year four times (2022, 2020, 2019, 2017) and the National Wrestling Coach Association Super Region 3 Coach of the Year in 2020. Tiffin tallied 29 NWCA Scholar All-American honors and 43 GMAC All-Conference selections.
“First I want to thank President Mantella, Director of Athletics Keri Becker and the entire wrestling hiring committee for the opportunity to lead the Grand Valley State wrestling program in its return to varsity sport status,” said Simcoe. “Opportunities like this do not come along often and I am excited to become a part of the fabric of Grand Valley State athletics.
I would also like to thank Athletic Director Lonny Allen and Tiffin University for their support during my career as head coach. We were able to accomplish some great things while at Tiffin both on and off the mat with outstanding student-athletes. I will forever be grateful for having the opportunity to lead the Tiffin wrestling family,” added Simcoe.
“Bringing back the once proud and tradition-filled wrestling program at GVSU and building it back from ground zero is an incredible opportunity. Grand Valley State is dedicated to restoring wrestling at an elite level, on course with entire vision of excellence that the athletics’ department operates.”
During the 2021-22 campaign seven Tiffin wrestlers landed spots on the All-GMAC team and Simcoe was named the GMAC Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career. The Dragons finished third at the NCAA Super Region 3 Championship, sending five wrestlers to the NCAA Championships where Nicholas Mason garnered All-American honors with his third-place finish.
“We are excited to have Joey join Grand Valley State and lead the re-launch of our wrestling program,” said Becker. “Joey had a vision for building the program at every level that set him apart from an outstanding pool of candidates. It was evident from the first conversation that he is committed to building a culture of success both on and off the mat, while also giving our student-athletes a championship experience.”
During the 2020-21 season, Simcoe led the Dragons to a ranking as high as eighth in the NWCA, finishing sixth at the Super Regional Championships and sending two athletes to Nationals. Tiffin had a banner season in 2019-20, winning the GMAC Championship and sending 5 grapplers to NCAA Nationals after finishing a best-ever second at NCAA Regionals. The team was ranked as high as seventh in the Division II rankings, with Coach Simcoe earning NWCA Super Region 3 Coach of the Year honors along with GMAC Coach of the Year honors.
Prior to his arrival at Tiffin Simcoe spent three years as assistant coach under his former head coach Shawn Nelson at Findlay and two years at Cumberland University (Tenn). As an assistant Simcoe helped mentor five National Champions, 16 All-Americans and 21 Scholar All-Americans.
Simcoe graduated with a BA in Criminal Justice from Findlay in 2004 and was named Academic All-American that same year. He was a three time All-American in wrestling and was elected team captain three times. He still ranks among the leaders all-time in near fall points both in a season and career.
A 1999 graduate of Northridge High School (Johnstown, Ohio), Joey was a three-time State Qualifier and two-time state placer.
Simcoe and his wife, Sally, are the proud parents of sons Joey (20), Maddox (17) and CJ (17) and daughters Savana (18) and Izabelle (2).
