Joey Simcoe has resigned as Head Men's Wrestling Coach at Tiffin University, with Antonio Guerra taking over the program as Head Coach.
Guerra recently finished his first year with the Dragons program after coming from Defiance College where he restarted the wrestling program after a 30-year hiatus. Prior to Defiance, he was at Ashland University, where he served as the head assistant wrestling coach. During the 2016-17 season, he helped Michael Labry to a national championship in the 133-pound weight class, Ashland's first National Champion since 1996. As a team, the Eagles finished sixth in the country in the final NCAA rankings that season.
Prior to his time at Ashland, Guerra was the head coach at Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio. During his tenure with the Irish, his teams placed in the top three in the state three times in his five seasons at the helm, including a state runner-up finish in 2015. Guerra led five individual state champion wrestlers, as well as 17 state placers, helping him earn two Three Rivers Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors.
His coaching career began as a graduate assistant at the University of Findlay, where he coached from 2008 through 2010. Guerra is a 2008 graduate of the University of Findlay, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in biology. While wrestling for the Oilers, he was a two-time NCAA Division II National Champion, a three-time National Finalist, and a four-time Division II All-American. Guerra was also named Academic All-American and two-time University of Findlay Male Athlete of the Year honoree.
Early in 2019, Guerra received both regional and national recognition for his impressive wrestling career. Guerra was inducted into not only the University of Findlay Athletic Hall of Fame in January but also the Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame in early March.
"I am excited to continue the winning traditions and culture Coach Simcoe has established," said Guerra. "I want to thank Joey Simcoe for bringing me on staff a year ago and Lonny Allen in trusting me to guide this program. I look forward to continuing to lead and mentor these young men both on and off the mat."
"We are ecstatic to hand the reins of the TU men's wrestling program to Tony Guerra. Tony is a proven leader on our campus and in the men's wrestling program. We believe Tony will keep the consistency in the program and build even more on its success. With Tony's extensive background in wrestling, we are confident that the program is in great hands and will continue to elevate at the national level," said Athletic Director Lonny Allen.
Simcoe, who will explore other coaching opportunities, recently finished his 11th season as Head Coach. During his tenure the Dragons have qualified 35 athletes for nationals, had 15 All-Americans, and had two individual National Champions.
Simcoe led the way as Tiffin's men's wrestling program gained national recognition. In the 2020-21 season, Simcoe led the Dragons to a great season, ranking as high as 8th 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 2nd at NCAA Regionals. The team was ranked as high as 7th 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.
Tiffin had a great year in 2018-19, consistently ranked in the NWCA Top-25 before ending with an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, the highest in program history. TU sent a pair of wrestlers to nationals, and both performed extremely well, as Trey Grine finished as the 149-lbs. runner-up and Nick Mason claimed Tiffin's second-ever individual title at 197-lbs.
Also during the season, the Dragons took second at the inaugural GMAC Wrestling Championships with Simcoe receiving Coach of the Year.
In 2016, Coach Simcoe and the Dragons won the program's first GLIAC Championship. TU had six All-GLIAC selections, and Coach Simcoe was named GLIAC Coach of the Year. He led a team that qualified five for the NCAA National Championships. At Nationals, Garrett Gray won Tiffin's first individual NCAA National Championship at 285 lbs. As a team, Tiffin finished 9th of 42 teams.
"I will forever be thankful for the 11 seasons I have spent at Tiffin University," said Simcoe. "I am thankful to Lonny Allen for giving me the chance to be a head coach and build the wrestling program. I am indebted to the Tiffin wrestling family that has supported and trusted me to lead the program. I am most thankful for the relationships that I have built over the last 11 years and still maintain today. I also have no doubt that Coach Antonio Guerra will continue to build on the history and traditions of Tiffin wrestling while creating his own recipe for success."
"I want to thank Joey Simcoe for building a national powerhouse program in men's wrestling," said Allen. "Although he did not start the program, he definitely built it and we will always be indebted to all his hard work and dedication. What he has done with our wrestling program from where he started until today has been remarkable. He has built a legacy that will continue and we wish him the best success in his new endeavors."