West Liberty, W.Va. – West Liberty University head wrestling coach and director of wrestling, Danny Irwin, has announced the addition of Joe Lamplot to the Hilltopper women's wrestling coaching staff. Lamplot will fill the role of assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the program that was announced in September that it would be coming to the hilltop starting in the 2024-25 season.
"I am excited to add Coach Lamplot to our staff," stated Irwin. "We have worked together in the past and have accomplished some amazing things during that time. He brings a unique skill set that will have an immediate impact on our women's program and wrestling as a whole. His passion for serving others will fit right in with our staffing and I believe will be a difference maker in developing our women's program to be the best in the country."
Lamplot was most recently the head women's wrestling and assistant men's wrestling coach at Manchester High School in North Manchester, Indiana. Starting in August of 2021 he coached the largest women's wrestling team in the state, which consisted of a group of nine athletes who had never competed in the sport before. Two of his athletes qualified for the state tournament during his time there and one went on to earn a fourth place finish and collect academic all-state honors. A pair of his female athletes also placed at the freshman/sophomore state tournament.
During his time in North Manchester, he also served as the club president and director of coaching for the Squires of the Roundtable. His successful run with the club included a pair of qualifiers for the National High School Showcase and a pair of Fargo National Team members (one in Greco and one in freestyle). At the Ohio Tournament of Champions, the team was fifth nationally in the small club division as three wrestlers placed. He coached the first female in county history to junior division USAW Folkstyle Nationals All-American recognition. All three of the club's seniors over the past two years have gone on to wrestle collegiately or are enrolled to wrestle this upcoming season.
"Coach Irwin and I have partnered in the past and had tremendous success," said Lamplot. "I am excited to join the hilltopper family and believe that this time with Coach Irwin we will make our biggest splash yet. I look forward to chasing national championships with the hilltopper women's wrestling team."
Irwin and Lamplot were both on the coaching staff at Wabash College from 2008-10, as Irwin was an assistant coach and Lamplot was a volunteer assistant and recruiter for the Little Giants. The duo coached a pair of NCAA Division III national qualifiers as Lamplot successfully recruited the top recruit from the state of Indiana, who had finished third in the state tournament. In the same recruiting class during his first full season, he also was able to bring in a multi-time scholar All-American at heavyweight. Prior to his time at Wabash, Lamplot was the assistant wrestling coach at Bluffton High School in Bluffton, Indiana from 2006-08.
Another notable figure in the wrestling community, a 1996 Olympian and World silver medalist, Ivan Ivanov had this to say about the coaching hire. "Knowing Joseph for the last three years by doing some coaching work with him I am certain that Joseph has the needed skills and knowledge in order to recruit skilled athletes and help them set and follow goals as well stay on tasks so they can be the best they can be."
