By JOHN MOOREHOUSE
An athlete and coach from the Mountain Empire has been offered, and accepted, an opportunity to helm a program at the next level.
Bill Edwards, who just wrapped his seventh season as head coach of wrestling at Abingdon High School, has been named the new women’s wrestling coach at Concord University, a Division II school in Athens, West Virginia.
“It’s been a wonderful time coaching in southwest Virginia. I am entirely grateful to our wrestling community for the support over these years and I look forward to this new role,” Edwards told I-81 Sports on Tuesday night.
Edwards produced three all-state wrestlers in VHSL Class A in the past five years. That included two wrestlers who placed second in the state tournament. His time at Abingdon overlapped with seven years as executive director of the Highlands Wrestling Club in Abingdon, at which many if not all of the AHS wrestlers completed as well.
Edwards was part of the first-ever men’s wrestling team at King College; the team opened operations in 2005. He coached at his alma mater in 2009 and 2010, helping the women’s wrestling program at King finish 10th and fourth, respectively, in the nation, with 10 wrestlers claiming All-American honors and one winning a national title.
Edwards also is a former MMA fighter on the amateur level.
He said he is excited for the chance to lead his own collegiate program, as well as the opportunity to build a program from the ground floor.
“During the interview process, including the on-campus tour, it was clear that this was a tight-knit community with a strong desire for excellence,” Edwards said. “I have specific experience as an athlete, an assistant coach, and as a head coach in building programs from the ground up. These two factors are what made this job a perfect fit. Throw in a beautiful campus and dedicated facilities and this is a home run.”