On Wednesday, June 25, Eastern Michigan University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Heather Lyke announced that seven-year EMU Associate Head Wrestling Coach David Bolyard will take over as Head Coach of the EMU wrestling program effective immediately. The search for a new coach began in late May following the resignation of long time head coach Derek DelPorto.
“It is exciting to be able to announce David Bolyard as our next head wrestling coach,” said Lyke. “What stood out for our committee and me about David is not only his competitive passion for Eastern Michigan wrestling, but his focus on positively impacting our student-athletes through the sport of wrestling. David is well prepared to lead our team and continue to augment the success of the program.”
“I would like to thank Heather Lyke, Senior Associate Athletics Director Chris Hoppe and the entire search committee for their commitment through this process,” Bolyard added. “Over the past seven years I have become extremely invested in the success of our student-athletes and this program. Being named the head wrestling coach at Eastern Michigan University is truly an honor and I am excited about the opportunity to help lead this program to the next level.”
Bolyard brings nine years of NCAA Division I coaching experience to his new post. Prior to accepting the head wrestling position at EMU, he spent seven years as an associate head coach with the Green and White. During that time, he coached 16 NCAA National Qualifiers and 33 All-Mid-American Conference finishers. In addition, six of the seven teams that he coached earned spots in the top-30 of the National Wrestling Coaches’ Association (NWCA) All-Academic Team Award.
Prior to coming to Ypsilanti, Bolyard spent two years at his alma mater Central Michigan University as a graduate assistant coach. At CMU, he helped coach to two top-30 team finishes at the NCAA Division I Championships. He also coached multiple individual athletes to successful careers. In both seasons that Bolyard coached, the Chippewas were MAC Champions and had 10 individual MAC Champions. In addition to his success in conference action, Bolyard helped coach five All-Americans and 15 national qualifiers.
Before beginning his coaching career, Bolyard was a wrestling student-athlete at Central Michigan. While attending Central, Bolyard joined the CMU 100 Win Club and earned a spot in CMU laurels by recording the 10th most wins in Maroon and Gold history. Bolyard also set a then-record of 21 straight wins during his senior campaign. He was a four-time NCAA qualifier, while earning All-American status in 2004. The two-time NWCA Academic All-American won an individual MAC Championship in 2005, while also being named CMU’s Chick Sherwood Most Outstanding Wrestler.
Bolyard graduated from CMU in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship before continuing his education and earning a master’s degree from Central in athletic administration in 2008.
