Wrestling | 5/27/2025 11:00:00 AM

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – University of Central Missouri Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Matt Howdeshell announced Tuesday, May 27, that Mules Wrestling head coach Cody Garcia has signed a three-year contract extension.

"We are excited that Coach Garcia has agreed to a contract extension and will continue to lead our wrestling program," Howdeshell said. "Cody and his staff have done a tremendous job revitalizing Mules Wrestling, leading them to national prominence, and we look forward to continued success under their leadership. Most importantly, we continue to be impressed with the culture Cody has established within the program. He's done a fantastic job as a mentor, and his wrestlers perform superbly on the mat, in the classroom, and in the community."

Garcia's new contract is highly competitive in the MIAA and NCAA Division II and provides incentives for MIAA Championships, postseason appearances and achievements, coach of the year awards, and academic achievements.

"I'm incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to continue serving Mules Wrestling as we elevate the expectations of the program," Garcia said. "I want to thank our administration for their unwavering trust and support through this process. Together, we have restored hope and transformed the program into something that is truly special."

In just his third season as head coach for the Mules, Garcia has led Central Missouri Wrestling to new heights.

UCM had three NCAA Division II All-Americans in 2024-25, including an individual National Champion in 125-pounder Jakason Burks, 157-pounder John Ridle, and 184-pounder Damon Ashworth. The three All-Americans were the most for UCM wrestling since the 2008-09 season, and Burks was the seventh national champion for Central Missouri in program history.

The Mules posted a seventh-place finish as a team at the NCAA-II Wrestling Championships, its highest finish in program history, and went 9-5 in dual competition, which was the best dual record since 2001-02 when UCM went 12-7-1.

Central Missouri also excelled in the classroom during the season, as 10 Mules earned a spot on the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-America list. UCM ranked 17th on the NWCA Scholar All-America Team Top 25 with a team GPA of 3.322.

"We've built a strong foundation here, and I am excited to lead this program to a new standard of success," Garcia added. "As much growth as we've seen over the past few years, it is only the beginning of many great things on the horizon!"
Garcia joined the Mules in April 2022 after seven seasons as the head coach for NAIA wrestling powerhouse Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan.

During his seven seasons at the helm for the Wildcats, he coached 48 National Qualifiers, 27 All-Americans and five National Champions.

Prior to his stint as the head coach at Baker, Garcia was an assistant coach at Bethany College for three years before serving as the head coach in 2014. In 2014, the Swedes finished 20th at the NAIA National Championships, where Colby Crank was the 149-pound national runner-up. Seven total individuals qualified for the national championships, the highest number in program history.

In 2015, Garcia led Bethany to a second-place finish in the Kansas Cup competition inside Baker's Collins Center and helped lead 149-pound wrestler Victor Hughes to an All-America honor, the second in program history.

Garcia came to Bethany from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where he served as a student assistant wrestling coach. While at Omaha, Garcia assisted the 2011 squad to an NCAA Division II National Championship.

Prior to coaching, Garcia was a member of the Omaha wrestling team, winning individual national championships in 2006 and 2008, runner-up in 2010, and finishing third in 2009. His team won National Championships in 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2010.

He was a four-time All-American and Academic All-American, graduating in 2010 with a 147-18 record, the fourth-highest number of all-time career wins at UNO since 1966. His 48 wins as a senior ranked as the second-highest number in school history, and Garcia set new UNO records of 84 career pins and 31 single-season pins. He graduated from Omaha with a bachelor's degree in education.

Garcia was inducted into the NWCA Jim Koch Division II Hall of Fame in February 2022 for his standout career as a student-athlete at Omaha. He is also a member of the Nebraska Omaha Athletic Hall of Fame.

Garcia and his wife, Kym, have three children: Milayna, Elyza and Adryn.

Garcia's father, Mike Garcia, wrestled for then Central Missouri State University from 1979-82 and captured the Mules first national championship, winning the 1982 title at 134 pounds. He was inducted into the UCM Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.