Max Ballinger, director of athletics, announced that Zach Wood accepted the head coaching position for men’s wrestling, effective March 9. Although this year’s season officially has ended, Wood already has met with every member of his team individually and is developing his game plan for the 2026/2027 season.
“Zach is a driven and passionate leader who understands what it takes to build a championship-caliber program,” Ballinger finds. “His track record of successful recruiting and developing student athletes academically and competitively, as well as his strong community ties and partnerships, make him the right fit for our wrestlers, our athletic department, and Cleary.”
Wood’s experience as a coach and a wrestler is impressive. Prior to joining Cleary, he served as head assistant wrestling coach for the women’s program at Siena Heights University. Before Siena Heights, Wood was assistant head coach for the men’s and women’s wrestling program at Albion College. During his two years at the school, he mentored 13 scholar All-Americans and coached nine national qualifiers. He was instrumental in recruiting 33 student athletes and helped guide both wrestling teams to NCAA Division III top 25 rankings.
Wood began his coaching career as a wrestling assistant at Clarkston High School. In 2018, he accepted the wrestling head coach position at Holly High School, where he led the team to four state championships, including the first female state champion in Holly history.
Outside his collegiate work, Wood is Business Manager for MI Revolution, a wrestling and pickleball facility in Highland. He coordinates training classes and programming for youth wrestling.
Wood’s roots run deep in Michigan. He was born and raised in Oxford, was part of the 2011 state champion wrestling team at Oxford High School, and continued his education at Lake Erie College where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Sports Studies while competing on the men’s wrestling team.
Wood’s own wrestling career began when he was barely past toddler age. “I used to watch my two older brothers wrestle, and I wanted to be just like them,” he reflects. He joined a competitive wrestling team – the Pontiac Huskies – when he was only 4 years old, and his passion for the sport only fueled his drive to pursue wrestling as a career. “I think I was wrestling at the same time I was developing my fine motor skills,” he laughs. “It was part of me, and it will remain one of my greatest passions.”
When he learned about the opportunity to lead the men’s wrestling program at Cleary, Wood knew it was the right move at the right time for him. “I had taken a part-time coaching position at Siena Heights so I could spend time with my newborn daughter,” Wood says. “Family is #1 for me and always will be.
“Cleary’s reputation academically and athletically was very impressive, and when meeting members of the athletic and academic departments, I knew this was the right fit for me,” he asserts. “I’ve been given an opportunity to work with a great group of young men, to build a strong wrestling culture, and have the support of the Cleary organization to help young athletes develop their talents in athletics and academics. Influencing young men at this stage of their lives is a tall order, and I’m extremely grateful to Cleary for this opportunity.”
Wood’s coaching style is based on building strong, sustaining relationships with his team and Cleary; establishing consistent structure; having hard conversations with wrestlers when they are needed; and instilling expectations athletically and academically.
“As a team, we will focus on day-to-day work, doing the small things correctly, which ultimately will lead to positive results,” he finds.
Wood lives in Albion with his “rock star” fiancé (as he calls her), their 1-year-old daughter and his stepdaughter. “Family always will be number one in my life, but wrestling has a secure second spot,” he shares with pride.
To learn more about Cleary’s wrestling program, visit clearycougars.com.
