Tiffin, Ohio – May 12, 2011 – Joe Hada, a 1972 Heidelberg University graduate and a familiar face in the coaching seat has been appointed to oversee the wrestling program during its transition period of hiring a new head coach. Director of Athletics Matt Palm has appointed Hada as the interim head coach effective immediately and a national search has begun to fill the fulltime vacancy.
This past winter Hada concluded his eighth season as an assistant with the wrestling team. During his time with the team, Heidelberg has won three Ohio Athletic Conference Dual Championships and five consecutive OAC Tournament titles from 2006-10. In 2011 the Berg finished runner-up at the OAC Tournament. During his time with Heidelberg he assisted with all aspects of the program, while overseeing the annual Bergmania Youth Wrestling Tournament hosted by Heidelberg.
Hada has over 35 years of coaching experience at both the high school and collegiate levels. He is a retired teacher and head wrestling coach at Mentor High School. His career record was 217-61 for over a .780 winning percentage. His teams captured seven Lake Erie League titles, three sectional/district titles and placed as high as fifth in the state. Hada had 17 state qualifiers, seven placers and one Ohio State Champion. In his 19 years as head coach, he totaled 10 coach-of-the-year awards including the Ohio High School Division I Coach of the Year.
Over his coaching career, Hada has served as the President of the Greater Cleveland Wrestling Coaches & Officials Association and the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association He was also the Regional Representative for the National High School Wrestling Coaches Association.
Hada has been inducted into the Mentor High School Sports Hall of Fame and the Harvey High Sports Hall of Fame. He also received the Mentor High Football Field Stadium Dedication Award.
Hada was a four-year letterman, team captain and national qualifier at Heidelberg. He and his wife Mary reside in Painesville, Ohio. They have three children, all of which attended Heidelberg, Betsy ’01, Joe ’04 and Julie ’07. Son Joe and his wife Tannah ’06 have a son, Jaxon.
