Triple Crown for Carpenter: Named Coach of the Year at District, Region, and National Levels

Promotional graphic featuring Muskegon Community College wrestling head coach Cody Carpenter. The design shows Carpenter in a blue Jayhawks polo in the foreground, with a black-and-white background image of him standing with award winners holding plaques. Text on the right reads “Cody Carpenter” with bullet points listing “District,” “Regional,” and “National,” highlighting his Coach of the Year honors. The NJCAA logo appears in the top left corner.
March 9, 2026

The wrestling program at Muskegon Community College continues to reach new heights as Head Coach Cody Carpenter has been named the NJCAA/NWCA National Wrestling Coach of the Year. The honor, awarded by the National Junior College Athletic Association and the National Wrestling Coaches Association, recognizes Carpenter's outstanding leadership and the remarkable success of the Jayhawks during the 2025–26 season.

Carpenter's national recognition comes after an extraordinary year for the program. In addition to the national award, he was also named Great Lakes District Coach of the Year and Region XII Coach of the Year, highlighting the impact he has made both regionally and nationally.

Under Carpenter's leadership, the Jayhawks delivered one of their strongest seasons in program history. The team captured the Great Lakes District Championship, defeating two nationally ranked programs and qualifying their entire lineup for the national championships. The program's success also included multiple All-American performances and a strong presence on the national stage.

Carpenter's commitment to developing student-athletes both on and off the mat has helped elevate the Jayhawks into one of the premier programs in NJCAA wrestling. His focus on discipline, preparation, and team culture continues to drive the program forward.

With national recognition now added to an already impressive season, Coach Carpenter and the Jayhawks look to build on this momentum as the program continues its pursuit of championships in the years ahead.