Notre Dame adds wrestling

~ Marc Stevener will coach the Bulldogs' new program next year.

Notre Dame officially has launched a wrestling program and hired a coach with 30 years of experience.

Marc Stevener has agreed to coach the program, which will start competing next winter. Stevener coached Sikeston between 1976 and 1997 before leaving to coach at Hazelwood Central.

Stevener, 58, remained at Hazelwood Central until retiring in 2006. The veteran coach is thrilled about helping launch the Notre Dame program.

"I've been out of head coaching for a few years now and I tried officiating and I really loved to officiate, but when this opportunity opened up to really start a program and go from the ground level up, [it was appealing] and Notre Dame's a great school," Stevener said. "It has a good reputation and it has good athletes. I thought I'd give it a shot.

"The program can get going. It's going to take a few years like anything, but it has good backing from the staff and the school itself."

Notre Dame athletic director Paul Hale said he expects about 25 to 30 students to go out for the team.

Stevener, who only will be the wrestling coach and will not teach, said he estimates between 20 and 30 student-athletes will join the squad.

"That's very optimistic," Stevener said about his estimation. "I'm just hoping that some of these men will want to get involved with the wrestling program."

Stevener said he has been recuperating from a knee operation, which has prevented him from visiting Notre Dame since he accepted the position.

"So I haven't really had a chance to go through the halls to really try to recruit any kids," Stevener said. "But I know there's an interest from what I understand. There's a possibility that we could have a solid 20 plus kids out. Within the next few weeks, I will have more of an opportunity to get up there and talk to the young men."

Stevener, who was asked to be the coach about a month ago, said the program was launched because boosters and parents showed interest in having a program.

"Basically, they have some good boosters," Stevener said. "And a couple of the gentlemen that have sons that are getting to the high school age have taken their kids through the USA/AAU wrestling program. ... Basically through them and coach Hale and the staff at Notre Dame, they made it very appealing [to be the coach]."

Stevener said some Notre Dame students have wrestling experience, and he expects that some first timers will join the team.

"I'm kind of old school," Stevener said. "I'm a very back-to-the-basics coach. I think that I have some good technique that will help these young men out even if they are seasoned wrestlers or beginner wrestlers. It just takes them a while to get them going and get the confidence up. You've got a young group of kids that have really never done this and some that have. And those experienced kids will really help me out."

Stevener said the schedule for next year is being put together and that Notre Dame has been looking at the possibility of joining the SEMO Conference.

Wrestling classes and districts for the 2009-10 winter season have yet to be listed on the Missouri State High School Activities Association Web site.

"The SEMO Conference has been very receptive for us to come in, and I have to sit with coach Hale and determine if this is what we want to do our first year," Stevener said.

The SEMO Conference already consists of Jackson, Central, Sikeston, Farmington, Poplar Bluff, Ste. Genevieve, North County, Windsor, New Madrid, Park Hills Central and Dexter.

"Southeast Missouri has got some good wrestling," Stevener said. "We're going to try to establish ourselves by wrestling the best around. We're definitely going to take our lumps."

Stevener, who wrestled in college, said he and Hale also have discussed adding an assistant coach, but an assistant has not been hired yet.

"I'm definitely excited to get back into it," Stevener said. "Hopefully my enthusiasm will get more kids out and we can have our little, great program at Notre Dame."