SMC Welcomes Todd Hesson as Wrestling Head Coach
Southwestern Michigan College announced today that alumnus Todd Hesson will join the athletic department as Head Coach, Men's Wrestling effective Monday, January 10.
The NJCAA approved SMC's return to intercollegiate athletics in late 2020. In May 2021, the SMC Board of Trustees authorized the revival of Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Volleyball and Wrestling for Fall 2022. SMC, which will compete as a member of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA), also just completed a successful return season of Men's and Women's Cross Country, with both nationally-ranked teams finishing fourth in NJCAA Region XII.
Hesson will be working with Athletic Director Rodell Davis, Senior, and the other head coaches to rebuild SMC's athletic department, establishing policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all NJCAA and MCCAA regulations, consulting on the construction of 1st Source Bank Fieldhouse - home of the Roadrunners - and recruiting wrestlers to compete for championships.
A resident of Niles, SMC's new head coach wrestled with the Roadrunners from 1983 to 1985 under Hall of Fame Coach Jim Judd and qualified for the NJCAA National Wrestling Championship. After graduating with an Associate Degree in Business Administration, Hesson continued wrestling at Findlay University in Ohio, qualifying for the NAIA Nationals and earning his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration.
Hesson served as Head Wrestling Coach at Niles High School from 2007 through the 2021 season. While at Niles, he earned Coach of the Year honors for the All-Southwest Michigan Team three separate times, the South Bend Tribune's Coach of the Year award three times, WSJM's Men's Coach of the Year, Regional Coach of the Year four times and State of Michigan Division II Coach of the Year.
Hesson's teams won Academic All-State accolades for 12 consecutive years, and he coached the Vikings to eight district championships, five regional championships, a "Final Eight" and four "Final Four" finishes. He has also served with Southside School in Niles as an Outreach Worker since 2002.
"We are never more pleased than when a Roadrunner returns to the nest," said President Dr. Joe Odenwald. "Coach Hesson has deep knowledge of the sport and great local relationships to help us start fast. We're going to leverage the passion of this community for wrestling, recruit committed student-athletes and support their success. It's going to be a lot of fun to watch."
"We are happy that Coach Hesson has accepted our Head Coach, Men's Wrestling position," said AD Davis. "Todd is a high-character person that will help our student-athletes reach their goals on and off the mat. He is a coach that will have his team's best interest at heart, especially in the classroom. As a former Roadrunner he has first-hand knowledge of the GREAT academic opportunities that SMC provides to all of its students. His coaching experience and local connections are important and make him a perfect fit to restart our program."
"It's exciting, as a former Roadrunner wrestler, to see SMC bring back athletics. I am looking forward to building a strong foundation for our wrestling program," Hesson added.
Students interested in wrestling at SMC should contact Coach Hesson through the recruiting form available at swmich.edu/athletics.