Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wrestling
Bolyard, David
David Bolyard
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
- david.bolyard@emich.edu
- Phone:
- 734.487.0395
The 2017-18 season marks the fourth year for David Bolyard as the head coach of the EMU wrestling team. In four years at the helm he has guided the Eagles to a 30-35 dual record.
The 2017-18 campaign was his most successful yet as EMU, after finishing with an 8-8 dual record, including 3-5 in the MAC, proceeded to tear up the MAC Championships. EMU took third place, finishing behind nationally ranked Missouri and Central Michigan. The third place finish was the best for the Eagles since 2012.
Bolyard coached four grapplers into the finals of their respective weight classes, including an individual title for Kayne MacCallum at 184 lbs., EMU's first individual champion since 2009. In addition, the Eagles qualified five total grapplers into the 2018 NCAA Championships, tying a program record set 1989 and matched in 1996.
Bolyard has sent 14 grapplers to the NCAA Championships in four seasons. In 2016 and 2017, he coached two EMU wrestlers to runner-up finishes at the MAC Championships, as well as coached back-to-back freshmen to the NCAA Championships, the first freshman to reach the big stage since 1984.
His teams have also been successful in the classroom, with three-straight top-10 finishes in the NWCA All-Academic Standings, including finishing first in 2015. His teams have also had 19 Academic All-MAC team members. He has also done work in recruiting top talent to Eastern, as his 2016 class finished with top-20 honorable mention honors by FloWreslting.
Bolyard brings nine years of NCAA Division I coaching experience to his position. Prior to earning the head job at EMU, he spent seven years as the associate head coach with the Eagles. During those seven seasons, he coached 16 NCAA National Qualifiers and 33 All-Mid-American Conference placers. In addition, six-of-seven teams that he coached earned spots in the top-30 of the National Wrestling Coaches’ Association (NWCA) All-Academic Team Award.
Prior to coming to Ypsilanti, Bolyard spent two years at his alma mater as a graduate assistant coach. At CMU, he saw two top-30 team finishes at the NCAA Division I Championships. In addition, he coached multiple individuals to stellar careers. The Chippewas were MAC Champions in both seasons that Bolyard coached and had 10 individual MAC Champions. On top of the success in conference action, Bolyard helped coach five All-Americans and 15 national qualifiers.
Before beginning his coaching career, Bolyard was a wrestling student-athlete at Central Michigan. As a Chippewa, Bolyard joined the CMU 100 Win Club and earned a spot in CMU laurels by recording the 10th most wins in Central Michigan history. Bolyard also set a then-record of 21 straight wins during his senior campaign. He was a four-time NCAA qualifier, while earning All-American status in 2004. The two-time NWCA Academic All-American won an individual MAC Championship in 2005, while also being named CMU’s Chick Sherwood Most Outstanding Wrestler.
Bolyard graduated from CMU in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship before continuing his education and earning a master’s degree from Central in athletic administration in 2008.
The 2017-18 campaign was his most successful yet as EMU, after finishing with an 8-8 dual record, including 3-5 in the MAC, proceeded to tear up the MAC Championships. EMU took third place, finishing behind nationally ranked Missouri and Central Michigan. The third place finish was the best for the Eagles since 2012.
Bolyard coached four grapplers into the finals of their respective weight classes, including an individual title for Kayne MacCallum at 184 lbs., EMU's first individual champion since 2009. In addition, the Eagles qualified five total grapplers into the 2018 NCAA Championships, tying a program record set 1989 and matched in 1996.
Bolyard has sent 14 grapplers to the NCAA Championships in four seasons. In 2016 and 2017, he coached two EMU wrestlers to runner-up finishes at the MAC Championships, as well as coached back-to-back freshmen to the NCAA Championships, the first freshman to reach the big stage since 1984.
His teams have also been successful in the classroom, with three-straight top-10 finishes in the NWCA All-Academic Standings, including finishing first in 2015. His teams have also had 19 Academic All-MAC team members. He has also done work in recruiting top talent to Eastern, as his 2016 class finished with top-20 honorable mention honors by FloWreslting.
Bolyard brings nine years of NCAA Division I coaching experience to his position. Prior to earning the head job at EMU, he spent seven years as the associate head coach with the Eagles. During those seven seasons, he coached 16 NCAA National Qualifiers and 33 All-Mid-American Conference placers. In addition, six-of-seven teams that he coached earned spots in the top-30 of the National Wrestling Coaches’ Association (NWCA) All-Academic Team Award.
Prior to coming to Ypsilanti, Bolyard spent two years at his alma mater as a graduate assistant coach. At CMU, he saw two top-30 team finishes at the NCAA Division I Championships. In addition, he coached multiple individuals to stellar careers. The Chippewas were MAC Champions in both seasons that Bolyard coached and had 10 individual MAC Champions. On top of the success in conference action, Bolyard helped coach five All-Americans and 15 national qualifiers.
Before beginning his coaching career, Bolyard was a wrestling student-athlete at Central Michigan. As a Chippewa, Bolyard joined the CMU 100 Win Club and earned a spot in CMU laurels by recording the 10th most wins in Central Michigan history. Bolyard also set a then-record of 21 straight wins during his senior campaign. He was a four-time NCAA qualifier, while earning All-American status in 2004. The two-time NWCA Academic All-American won an individual MAC Championship in 2005, while also being named CMU’s Chick Sherwood Most Outstanding Wrestler.
Bolyard graduated from CMU in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship before continuing his education and earning a master’s degree from Central in athletic administration in 2008.
| The David Bolyard File | ||
| Name: | David Bolyard | |
| High School: | Springfield H.S. - Akron, Ohio | |
| College: | Central Michigan University - Bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship - 2005 | |
| Central Michigan University - Master’s degree in Athletic Administration - 2008 | ||
| Coaching/Playing Experience | ||
| Year | School/Company | Position |
| 2007-14 | Eastern Michigan University | Associate Head/Head Assistant Wrestling Coach |
| 2005-07 | Central Michigan University | Graduate Assistant Wrestling Coach |
| 2002-05 | Central Michigan University | Student-Athlete |
Eastern Michigan - 2018 MAC Wrestling Championships Preview
Monday, June 04
2018 MAC Wrestling Championships 165-lb Match:
Monday, June 04
2018 MAC Wrestling Championships 197-lb Match:
Monday, June 04
2018 MAC Wrestling Championships 285-lb Match:
Monday, June 04
