-- Story provided by Alma College Athletics --
ALMA,Mich. — Todd Hibbs is returning to the place where he enjoyed some of the greatest successes in his career as a wrestling coach.
Hibbs, who served as the Scots' head wrestling coach from 2011-16, has been hired to return as Director of Wrestling, Director of Athletics Sarah Dehring announced on Monday, Sept. 20. In addition to his responsibilities with wrestling, Hibbs will join the senior athletics staff, as Assistant Athletics Director for Development and External Relations.
"We are so fortunate to have Todd rejoining our Alma College family," Dehring said. "He did an incredible job training student-athletes on the wrestling mat and in the weight room during his time at Alma, but what stood out to me most was his dedication to their academics and other campus involvement. Todd's energy and experience will pair nicely with the dedication and knowledge from Coach Jared Groeneveld and Coach Fletcher Roberts, taking the wrestling program to the next level."
"I am beyond thrilled for the opportunity to return to Alma College and work to support not only an outstanding wrestling team, but all Scot programs, as we continue to make this plaid presence known in the MIAA and beyond," Hibbs said. "I'd especially like to thank the hiring committee and administration for making me a Scot again. Scots Wha Hae!"
In 2011, Alma College fielded its first varsity wrestling team since 1984, with Hibbs as its head coach. Under Hibbs' guidance, the Scots grew into a consistent top-20 team in NCAA Division III, peaking at sixth in the nation. At the 2016 NCAA Division III Championships, Alma featured three All-Americans, marking the first time in the history of the program the Scots had more than one at the national championships.
In addition to Hibbs' success on the mat at Alma, the Scots became one of the NCAA's elite programs academically during his tenure. Alma ranked as high as second in academic standing for Division III, and featured eight National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-Americans. Hibbs also worked with the Alma College Advancement Office to raise nearly $4 million for a new addition to the Hogan Center and was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Advancement. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, via the Michigan chapter.
To further his education, Hibbs stepped away from higher education athletics in 2016 to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy degree in educational leadership from Central Michigan University, which he anticipates receiving later this year.
Since 2019, he has served as Director of Athletics at Hiram College, an NCAA Division III school in Hiram, Ohio. There, he supervised more than 40 staff members serving 350-plus student-athletes in Division III varsity sports programs. Among his accomplishments, he led the Terriers
to their greatest performance in the competitive arena in decades, as three squads either won conference championships and/or qualified to the national championships in Division III.
Prior to coming to Alma, Hibbs served as vice president for advancement, assistant professor and head wrestling coach at Olivet College, where he rebuilt an eliminated program into a top-10 team nationally, from 2004-11. Hibbs worked in various capacities at Michigan State University from 1990-2000.
In addition to Hibbs' doctoral degree, he has earned a Master of Arts degree in health education and human performance from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from the University of Mount Union.
