SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Wrestling program will transition leaders as former Head Coach Levi Calhoun has moved into an Assistant Athletic Director role with the Bulldogs. In his place, Concordia Athletics has tabbed former Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) Associate Head Wrestling Coach Myron Bradbury, as announced on Tuesday (Aug. 17). Bradbury becomes the fifth Bulldog Head Wrestling Coach during the GPAC era.
A rising star on the NAIA landscape, Bradbury also previously assisted the men’s and women’s wrestling programs at NAIA member Lyon College in Batesville, Ark. Bradbury’s staff at Concordia will include Assistant Coach Tyree Cox.
Said Bradbury, “First I want to thank God for his guidance through this process and during the last two months. I am excited to lean on him as we go forward. Next I want to thank my parents and family for the love and support they continue to provide. And finally I want to thank Concordia University for their belief in me to lead this wrestling program. The support from the administration is incredible and something I’m very excited about.”
Said Director of Athletics Devin Smith, “We’re ecstatic to welcome Coach Bradbury to Concordia. He knows exactly what it takes to run an elite wrestling program in the NAIA. Myron’s work at Lindsey Wilson was exceptional and the role prepared him for this next step as a head coach. Our leadership team is confident in Coach Bradbury’s ability to foster excellence within our wrestling program, on and off the mats.”
Bradbury comes to Concordia via one of the NAIA’s true powerhouse wrestling programs in Lindsey Wilson. In five seasons as a full-time staff member with the Blue Raiders, Bradbury worked under highly successful Head Coach Corey Ruff (now the head coach at the University of Cumberlands in Kentucky). Over the past five years, Bradbury aided in Lindsey Wilson placing in the top five of the NAIA Wrestling National Championships each season with national runner-up claims in 2017 and 2019. The Blue Raiders also won three Mid-South Conference Tournament titles during that run. Prior to his full-time role, Bradbury worked two years at Lindsey Wilson as a part-time and student assistant.
Additionally, Bradbury coached Lindsey Wilson wrestlers that achieved six NAIA national titles, four NAIA national runner-up finishes, 35 All-America plaques and 26 Mid-South Conference titles. As the assistant, Bradbury played an integral role in putting together recruiting classes that were among the best of all small college programs. Prior to returning to his alma mater Lindsey Wilson, Bradbury spent one season at Lyon.
Up until the present, Bradbury had been the Head Coach of Team Kentucky, associated with the USA Wrestling Team organization. Bradbury managed the coaching staff and led Team Kentucky into state and national tournaments. The native of Elizabethtown, Ky., has also coached in various other capacities, such as at the high school level, and founded the Blue Raider Wrestling Club and the Kentucky Regional Training Center.
Bradbury graduated from Lindsey Wilson with his Bachelor of Arts in Health Communication. As a wrestler at Lindsey Wilson, Bradbury compiled an overall record of 42-24 and twice qualified for the national tournament. As a high school grappler, Bradbury won two Kentucky state titles at Trinity High School.
Calhoun resigns wrestling post for Assistant AD role at Concordia
Following three years as Head Wrestling Coach, Levi Calhoun resigned the position to take on the role of Assistant Athletic Director at Concordia University. Calhoun began his new position this summer. He works under the direction of Director of Athletics Devin Smith and Associate Director of Athletics Angela Muller.
Calhoun is excited about the career shift from coaching to administration. The native of Moore, Okla., will have the opportunity to impact student-athletes in a different manner.
Said Calhoun, “The past six seasons with Concordia Wrestling have been an amazing adventure. There are so many names that come to mind when I reminisce about those days. The relationships and friendships I’ve developed mean the world to me and I am thankful for everyone who shared that journey with me. I love the sport of wrestling and it will always be a part of my life. I am excited for the future of the Bulldog Wrestling program and Bulldog Athletics!”
Said Devin Smith, “First, I want to thank Levi for his six years of service to the Concordia Wrestling program. I’ve enjoyed working with him and getting to know him over those years. I look forward to working with Levi in this new role and am excited about what the expansion of our athletic administration will mean for Concordia Athletics. Levi’s addition to athletic leadership will help grow our department further and allow us improve upon the student-athlete and fan experience at Concordia.”
Calhoun’s appointment will expand the capacity of Concordia Athletic Administration and the department’s ability to serve more than 700 student-athletes. Specifically, Calhoun is the Assistant AD for facilities and game event production. He will play an important role in game day operations.
Calhoun served the Concordia Wrestling program for a total of six years, including three as an assistant. He arrived in Seward in 2015 after having previously worked as Assistant Wrestling Coach at his alma mater, Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan. Calhoun was named the 2019-20 GPAC Wrestling Coach of the Year after leading the Bulldogs to GPAC regular season and tournament championships. Concordia also earned a share of the GPAC regular-season title in 2018-19, Calhoun’s first season as head coach. Over his six seasons with the Bulldogs, Calhoun coached 10 All-Americans, including 2016 national champion Andrew Schulte, 2017 national runner up Ceron Francisco and 2019 national runner up Tanner Farmer. As head coach, Calhoun’s teams went a combined 27-17 overall in duals and 18-6 in conference duals.
As a student-athlete from 2006 to 2009, Calhoun twice qualified for the NAIA wrestling national championships and became the school’s first-ever wrestling All-American when he took fourth place in the heavyweight bracket. Calhoun also started all four years on the defensive line for the Wildcat football team. He garnered first team all-conference football recognition twice. Calhoun earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Baker. He and his wife Hollie reside in Seward with their daughter Mackenzie.
