POTEAU, Okla. — Carl Albert State College has named Juan Diaz as the new Head Men’s Wrestling Coach, bringing to the Viking program a proven track record of competitive success, academic achievement, and student-athlete development.
A native of Estherville, Iowa, Diaz joins CASC after serving the past two seasons as assistant wrestling coach at Iowa Lakes Community College. During his tenure, he helped lead the program to a Top 10 finish at the NJCAA National Duals, 18 national qualifiers, multiple All-Americans, and two Top 25 finishes at the NJCAA National Championships. Off the mat, Diaz played a key role in the program’s academic success, helping the team earn a Top 10 NJCAA Scholar Team finish while producing eight Scholar All-Americans.
Before beginning his coaching career, Diaz competed at Wartburg College under Head Coach Eric Keller, where he was part of two NCAA Division III National Runner-Up teams. Prior to Wartburg, he wrestled at Iowa Lakes Community College, qualifying for the NJCAA National Tournament.
Diaz earned both his Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Arts in Leadership from Wartburg College. His coaching philosophy emphasizes developing well-rounded student-athletes through accountability, academic excellence, servant leadership, and competitive success.
“I am incredibly honored and excited to be named the next Head Wrestling Coach at Carl Albert State College,” Diaz said. “I want to thank the athletic department and administration for believing in my vision and trusting me with the opportunity to lead this program. Wrestling has had a tremendous impact on my life, and I am passionate about using this sport to help student-athletes become the best version of themselves. My goal is to build a championship culture where our athletes compete at the highest level, graduate with purpose, and develop the character and leadership skills needed to succeed long after their wrestling careers end. I look forward to meeting our student-athletes, connecting with our staff and community, and continuing the tradition of excellence at Carl Albert State College.”
Carl Albert State College Athletic Director Paul Pulley said Diaz’s commitment to developing student-athletes both athletically and academically made him an outstanding choice to lead the program.
“Juan brings an impressive combination of competitive experience, coaching success, and a genuine passion for mentoring young people,” Pulley said. “His vision aligns perfectly with our mission of developing student-athletes who excel not only in competition, but also in the classroom and in their communities. We are excited to welcome him to the Viking family and look forward to the future of our wrestling program under his leadership.”
Diaz inherits a program that has established itself as one of the premier NJCAA wrestling programs in the country. The Vikings have consistently produced national qualifiers, All-Americans, and scholar-athletes while competing at the highest level of junior college wrestling.
Carl Albert State College welcomes Coach Diaz to eastern Oklahoma as he begins leading the next chapter of Viking wrestling.
