NIC Announces Clasen as Interim Head Wrestling Coach

North Idaho College has selected current assistant wrestling coach, Chase Clasen, to be the Cardinals’ interim head wrestling coach.

Clasen, who joined NIC in July, will fill the position left vacant by head wrestling coach, Dr. Michael Sebaaly, who will serve as NIC’s interim president through the 2021-22 academic year.

“We are very happy to have Chase take on this expanded leadership role,” said NIC Vice President for Student Services Dr. Graydon Stanley. “During his time at NIC, he has developed important relationships with our student-athletes and shown that he is committed to their success on the mat and in the classroom.”

A native of Moses Lake, Washington, Clasen was graduate assistant wrestling coach at Chadron State College in Nebraska, before coming to NIC. While at Chadron State, Clasen helped recruit and sign multiple state champions and high school All-Americans. As a coach, he helped develop five collegiate All-Americans.

Clasen said he is excited for the opportunity to be the Cardinal wrestlers’ interim head coach.

“NIC has a great wrestling tradition, where many of my friends and former coaches have achieved their wrestling goals,” Clasen said. “This role matches my career goal which is to coach a team to a national title. North Idaho College is in a great position and is on track to accomplish this goal.He said that as assistant wrestling coach at NIC, he worked closely with Dr. Sebaaly.

“He has taught me so much about recruiting and the small intricacies about being a head coach,” Clasen said.

Following a successful high school wrestling career, Clasen wrestled for Iowa Western Community college where he received an associate degree in social science. He then transferred to NCAA DII Chadron State College in Nebraska, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and competed on their wrestling team.

During his time at Chadron, Clasen was a two-time national qualifier, a two-time conference finalist (one of those times a conference champion), and he was dubbed both an NCAA Wrestling All-American and an Academic All-American his senior year. After earning his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, Clasen spent a season as the graduate assistant coach at Chadron. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in organizational leadership.

For more information, please contact NIC Vice President for Student Services Graydon

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