Jon Egan returns for his 11th season as Head Coach of the RWU Wrestling team with an overall record of 175-45 in 10 seasons at the helm.
After a season off from competition due to the pandemic, Egan led the Hawks to a 17-5 record in 2021-22. Egan also coached three wresters to the NCAA Division III National Championship in Cedar Rapid, Iowa. Egan's group also saw success in the classroom ranking 16th in the country in team GPA with 10 Scholar All-Americans.
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The 2019-20 season saw the Wrestling team finish with a 15-8 overall record while securing fifth place in the Northeast Region. Egan coached eight wrestlers to All-Region honors. Ten student-athletes were honored as NWCA Division III Scholar All-Americans, the second most in the country. In addition, the team finished 17th in team GPA in the country.
In the 2018-19 season, the Hawks finished third in the NCAA Northeast Regional. In addition, the team was ranked as high as eighth in the nation. At the Northeast Regional, the Hawks had eight individuals earn All-Region honors including two region champions in Tyler Gazaway at 149 lbs. and Taylor Shay at 165 lbs. Both earned berths to the NCAA Tournament where Taylor Shay earned All-American honors. Off the mat, the Hawks had one NWCA Division III Scholar All-American in Taylor Shay, bringing his total to 35 Scholar All-Americans in his eight years as head coach.
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In the 2017-18 season, the Hawks finished with a record of 21-7. The team finished second in the New England Dual Meet Championships. In addition, the team was ranked as high as 18th in the nation. At the Northeast Regional, the Hawks had five individuals earn All-Region honors and four earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio. Taylor Shay was the 165-pound Region Champion. Off the mat, the Hawks had four NWCA Division III Scholar All-Americans.
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In the 2016-17 season, the Hawks finished with a record of 21-2. The team finished fourth in the Northeast Region and runner-up in the Pilgrim League. In addition, the team was ranked as high as fourth. At the Northeast Regional, the Hawks had six individuals earn All-Region honors and Ty Herzog earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament in Wisconsin, LaCrosse. Herzog was named an All-American with his 7th place finish. Off the mat, the Hawks had four NWCA Division III Scholar All-Americans.
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The 2015-16 season saw Egan guide the Wrestling team to its most successful season in program history. The team won the Pilgrim League for the fourth straight season while going 23-3 overall, setting a new single-season record for wins. Egan was named Pilgrim League and New England Coach of the Year. In addition, the team was ranked as high as second in the nation and placed third at the NWCA National Duals, the highest finish ever for a team from New England. The team also placed second in the Northeast Regional, earning nine All-Region wrestlers while sending six to the NCAA Championship. Most notably, senior David Welch became the first NCAA National Champion in school history after winning the 197-pound weight class. Off the mat, the Hawks had six NWCA Division III All-Academic wrestlers, the second-most in the country by any team.
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In Egan’s fourth season as head coach, he led the team to another incredible season. The team finished with an 18-1 record, had seven All-Region wrestlers, and five NCAA qualifiers. The team also repeated as New England Champions and Pilgrim League Champions. Egan was named the Pilgrim League Coach of the Year for the fourth straight year. The team finished 21st in the country for National Team GPA with a 3.35 and David Welch was named the RWU Male Athlete of the Year.
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In the 2013-14 season, the wrestling team enjoyed one of their most successful seasons this year, tying a program record with 19 wins while clinching the Pilgrim League Championship for the second straight year. Egan was honored as Pilgrim League Coach of the Year award for the third straight year, while nine of his wrestlers earned Pilgrim League All-Star honors. The Hawks captured their first New England Dual Meet Championship since 2007 and placed fourth at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship, where seven wrestlers earned All-Region honors and three earned berths to the NCAA Tournament. At the end of the year, two of his wrestlers would receive All-American recognition and ten would be named NWCA Scholar All-Americans. In addition, the Hawks received the National Coach’s Wrestling Association Division III Scholar Team Award for finishing the fall semester with a team GPA of 3.487, ranking them sixth in the nation.
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The 2012-13 season proved to be a banner year for Egan and the Hawks. For the second consecutive season, Egan was named the Pilgrim League’s Coach of the Year, guiding the team to the Pilgrim League title. Junior Collin Crowell not only repeated as RWU’s Male Athlete of the Year, but also received a bid to compete at the NCAA DIII National Championships for the second straight season. He was joined at Nationals by teammate Shane Parcel. Crowell, along with Michael Forlenza, were also selected as NWCA Scholar All-Americans.
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In his first season, serving as Co-Head Coach of the Wrestling team with Dave Kemmy for the 2011-12 season, Egan was named 2011-12 Pilgrim League Coach of the Year. The Hawks finished the year with a record of 12-5 overall, 4-1 in the Pilgrim League, and a fourth-place finish out 14 teams in the New England Division III Championships. Highlighting the season was Collin Crowell receiving a bid to compete at the NCAA DIII National Championship and being named 2011-12 RWU Male Athlete of the Year, in addition to seven wrestlers receiving all Pilgrim League recognition.
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Prior to becoming head coach, Egan served as an assistant coach for program since September 2010 after three years as the Head Varsity Wrestling Coach at Milton Academy. Egan also had a very successful career as a wrestler at Roger Williams. He was a three-time Academic All-American as well as a four-time All-New England selection.
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Egan was named the Roger Williams Male Athlete of the Year in 2005 and ranks third all-time in wins at RWU, finishing his career with a record of 121-38 (.761). Additionally, Egan ranks in the top ten in take downs, reversals, near falls, and team points. In high school, Egan was the state-runner up as a junior before becoming the Rhode Island State Champion in 2001.
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Egan graduated from RWU with a degree in Financial Services and holds an MBA from UMass-Boston in Finance. He also serves as the Fall Sports Event Manager for the department.