University of Sioux Falls Athletics

Matt Meuleners enters his fourth season as head coach of the University of Sioux Falls men's wrestling program in 2026-27. A nationally respected coach and one of the most accomplished wrestlers in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference history, Meuleners has played a pivotal role in building the Cougar program's foundation at the NCAA Division II level while fostering a culture of competitive excellence and academic success.

Meuleners completed his third season at the helm of the Cougars in 2025-26, leading USF to a 7-9 overall record and a 3-7 mark in NSIC duals. Under his guidance, Luke Swanson earned NSIC Athlete of the Month recognition, while the program continued its strong academic tradition with two NSIC Team of Excellence honors, five NSIC All-Academic selections, three NWCA Scholar All-Americans in Stetson Davis, Ashtin Johnson, and Hank Meyer, and a CorTrust Scholar-Athlete designation for Calvin Empkey.

During the 2024-25 season, Meuleners guided the Cougars to a 6-11 record, highlighted by victories over Newman, Concordia-Moorhead, Belmont Abbey, Drury, Ouachita Baptist, and Southwest Minnesota State. In the classroom, the program excelled with seven student-athletes earning NWCA Scholar All-America recognition.

In the inaugural NCAA Division II season in 2023-24, Meuleners led USF to a pair of dual victories and coached Beau Klingensmith to become the first NCAA Division II National Championship qualifier in program history. Ranked No. 10 nationally at 133 pounds, Klingensmith's qualification marked a significant milestone in the development of the program.

The 2023-24 season also brought tremendous individual recognition for Meuleners, who was inducted into the Northern State University Athletic Hall of Fame, the NSIC Hall of Fame, and the NWCA Jim Koch Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame, cementing his place among the most decorated wrestlers in NCAA Division II history.

Prior to taking over the USF program, Meuleners served as head assistant coach at California State University-Bakersfield and previously held the same role at Brown University. During his time at Brown, he helped guide the Bears to a second-place Ivy League finish, the program's highest conference finish since 1997. He coached seven NCAA qualifiers and helped sign eight of the nation's top wrestling prospects.

Before Brown, Meuleners spent four seasons as a volunteer assistant at the University of Nebraska under legendary head coach Mark Manning. During his tenure with the Huskers, Nebraska compiled a 49-13 dual record while producing 33 NCAA qualifiers and 12 All-Americans.

One of the most accomplished wrestlers in NSIC history, Meuleners was a four-time NCAA Division II All-American at Northern State University and captured national championships in 2011 and 2012. He finished his career with a school-record 145 victories and a 145-32 overall record while earning four All-NSIC honors, two Academic All-America selections, and the 2012 NSIC Wrestler of the Year award.

Following his collegiate career, Meuleners continued competing on the national freestyle circuit, qualifying for the U.S. World Team Trials in 2013 and 2014 and earning U.S. Open Senior Freestyle All-America honors in 2013, 2014, and 2015. He capped his competitive career by qualifying for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

Meuleners earned his bachelor's degree in human performance and fitness with a minor in coaching from Northern State University in 2013. He later completed his master's degree in kinesiology-sport management from the University of Central Missouri in 2019.

Originally from Young America, Minnesota, Meuleners attended Central High School, where he earned two top-five state finishes. He and his wife, Jessica, reside in Sioux Falls with their daughter, Zoey.

USF Records and Accomplishments

• Coached the first NCAA Division II National Championship qualifier in program history (Beau Klingensmith, 2024)
• 15 dual victories during the program's first three NCAA Division II seasons
• 15 NSIC All-Academic honorees
• 3 NWCA Scholar All-Americans in 2025-26
• 7 NWCA Scholar All-Americans in 2024-25
• 2 NSIC Team of Excellence honors
• 1 CorTrust Scholar-Athlete
• Guided the program's transition and growth at the NCAA Division II level
• Inducted into the Northern State University Athletic Hall of Fame (2024)
• Inducted into the NSIC Hall of Fame (2024)
• Inducted into the NWCA Jim Koch Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame (2024)