La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has named Ross Needham as an assistant wrestling coach.  “I am very excited for the opportunity to coach some of the best NCAA Division III wrestlers in the nation and fight for a national championship,” says Needham.  “I have worked out with some of these guys off and on throughout the past couple of years and now I can't wait to work with them on a full-time basis.  The opportunity to help them reach their academic and wrestling goals keeps me up at night with excitement.”

Needham has served as the head wrestling coach at Holmen (Wis.) High School for the past three years.  The Vikings went 30-11 in duals under Needham and advanced to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) State Tournament in 2010.  Holmen had eight state qualifiers during Needham's tenure.  “It was a tough decision to leave my position as the head coach at Holmen,”adds Needham.  “We made it to team state last year and have two returning state qualifiers and some really good underclassmen that will make an immediate impact.”

He will continue to teach eighth grade math at Holmen Middle School and coach middle school football.

A 2007 graduate of UW-L with a bachelor's degree in elementary and middle level education and minor in mathematics, Needham earned two NCAA Division III All-America wrestling honors for the Eagles.  He placed third in 2006 and fourth in 2007 at 157-pounds at the national championships.  Needham was also a national qualifier in 2005.  He won three 157-pound titles at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championships (2005, 2006, 2007) and finished his career with a record of 109-41.  Needham is tied for 12th in school history in victories.

 “My senior year at UW-L was my most enjoyable season of collegiate wrestling and the main reason for that was because it Coach Malecek's first year with the program,” says Needham.  “I learned so much from him in that one year, not only in terms of wrestling, but about being a person.”

Named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Academic All-America Team four times (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007), Needham was a state champion at Marshfield (Wis.) High School.

“What a great addition to our staff,” says UW-L head coach Dave Malecek.  “He is an impact kind of guy, has worked our camps and worked with our guys over the past three summers and his energy and passion for wrestling is very contagious.  Malecek says Needham will help coach the middle weights at UW-L.  “He has proven that he can coach as he has taken Holmen to the state duals and turned that program around,” adds Malecek.  “I can not tell you how excited I am to have him back helping UW-L.  He is a great role model and leader.  The whole team is excited to have Ross join our staff.”

UW-L placed second at the 2010 NCAA III Wrestling Championships, its 10th top-four finish in school history.  Malecek was named the D3wrestle.com Coach of the Year while Bebeto Yewah (133-pounds), Mike Schmitz (174) and Dan Laurent (285) each captured individual national titles.  The Eagles also won their 13th straight WIAC title in 2010.

UW-L is set to host the 2011 and 2012 NCAA III Wrestling Championships at the La Crosse Center.  “What a great experience it will be to win the title right here at the La Crosse Center,” says Needham.