Former NCAA Champ Williams to Lead Central Men’s Wrestling Program
Having reached the pinnacle as an athlete, as a club instructor, high school coach and college assistant coach, Landon Williams will strive to accelerate the Central College men’s wrestling program’s rise as its new head coach.
Williams, a three-time all-American honoree and two-time NCAA Division III national champion at Wartburg College, has served as the top assistant coach for the Knights since 2020. As Central’s new head coach he follows Eric Van Kley, who gave up the position he held for the past 17 years to devote more time to his new role as vice president for athletics.
An Eldridge, Iowa native and Davenport Assumption Catholic High School graduate, Williams posted a 47-0 record with a state title as a high school senior. He was also a two-time USA Folkstyle All-American for the Young Guns Wrestling Club. At Wartburg, Williams compiled a 135-15 career record and was a part of four Division III championship teams, while serving as team captain for two seasons. He spent an additional season as a Wartburg assistant then taught high school physical education at Holy Cross School in New Orleans from 2015-19. He was an assistant coach there for three seasons before spending a year there as director of wrestling. He helped lead Holy Cross to a Division I state championship while finishing third twice and second once during his tenure. Eleven of his wrestlers claimed individual state crowns. He also co-founded the Bayou Elite Wrestling Club, helping lead 50 wrestlers to USA state titles.
He served as a volunteer assistant at Wartburg in 2019-20, then was named the program’s top assistant the following year. The Knights captured the NCAA Division III title in 2022 and finished second the past two seasons. Wartburg wrestlers received all-American honors 25 times during his four years as the lead assistant.
Williams’ wife, Rachel Cassens Williams, graduated from Central in 2016 and was a member of the Dutch women’s golf team while also learning as an athletic training student.
Central’s Vala Named Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Week
An undefeated weekend for Central College’s Becca Vala landed her the American Rivers Conference’s Women’s Tennis Performer of the Week honor.
Vala went 4-0 in individual matches while the Dutch defeated St. Ambrose University 7-0 on Friday and Simpson College 7-2 on Sunday. Against St. Ambrose, she won her No. 4 singles match 6-0, 6-0 while taking a 6-3 No. 2 doubles victory with Jenna Mitsuko Mahoney. In the Simpson match she won 6-0, 6-2 in singles and 8-2 in doubles.
The Dutch travel to Augustana College (Ill.) on Friday at 4:30 p.m.