Wrestling

Cougars Name Whelan Head Wrestling Coach
         Khris Whelan, a former assistant coach and two-time All-American at Missouri, has been named the head wrestling coach at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
         Whelan, most recently the wrestling coach at Cahokia High School, takes over the Cougar wrestling program on a part-time basis, according to SIUE Athletics Director Brad Hewitt. Whelan was chosen from a pool of 28 applicants.
         “We’re excited about having Khris join the program,” said Hewitt. We knew it was going to be tough to find someone with quality credentials for this part-time position. I believe we have achieved that goal.”
         Whelan has a wide variety of experience as a wrestling coach on an international, national, and grassroots level. He was the British National Freestyle wrestling coach and British Grassroots Development coach from 1994 to 1997, often coordinating United Kingdom tours for high schools from Tennessee, New York, Oregon, Missouri, Wyoming, and Wisconsin.
         “It’s a great honor and privilege,” Whelan said of his appointment. “I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
         He will be joined by Ronald Bessemer, who will serve as an assistant coach for the Cougars. Bessemer, of Mt. Olive, was the USA World University Games Greco-Roman head coach and freestyle assistant coach. His coaching credentials include virtually every level of amateur wrestling including high school, junior college, college, and the U.S. Army. Bessemer has worked numerous clinics and camps. He also served in the officiating ranks working the Pan Am trials in 1967, the National Open Championships from 1969-71, and a USA-Russia dual meet in 1971.
         Whelan said that after previously helping the Missouri Tigers develop eight NCAA Division I All-Americans, he was ready to return to the collegiate level. He had been the head coach at Cahokia since 2000 and previously was the coach at Hazelwood (Mo.) Central High School.
         A third-degree black belt in Judo, Whelan also was an accomplished wrestler. He wrestled to a career record of 114-5 and was a Class AA Illinois prep champion for Granite City North High School. A two-time All-American at Missouri with a record of 102-19-3, he went on to become a four-time National Junior Freestyle and Greco-Roman champion. An alternate on the 1976 Olympic Greco team, he was later named to the 1983 U.S. World Greco team. In 2001, he was inducted into the Illinois Wrestling Hall of Fame.
         Whelan can be reached by e-mail: khrisw@earthlink.net.
                  -siue cougars-