FOREST GROVE, Ore.- Pacific University Athletics is excited to announce the addition of Zach Binkerd as the Head Men's and Women's Wrestling Coach.
 
A Pacific alum, Binkerd was an assistant coach with the Boxer wrestling program before earning the interim head coach position during the 2020-21 season. 
 
"Coach Binkerd, in the interim role last year, showed a genuine commitment to our student-athletes and the development of wrestling at Pacific," said Director of Athletics Keith Buckley. We are pleased that he will continue forward as our head wrestling coach."
 
As an assistant coach, the Hillsboro, Ore. native helped three Boxer men's wrestlers reach the second round of the consolation round of the NCAA Division III West Regional in 2018-19 season. In the same season, he helped four women's wrestlers participate in the WCWA Wrestling Championships while two wrestlers earned top-four finishes at the Oregon Women's State Championship.
 
Binkerd was a standout wrestler himself, competing four years on the mats for the Boxers after wrestling four years in high school at Hillsboro High School. He was a four-time placewinner and two-time state finalist for the Spartans. He also earned three top-eight finishes at the state championships, including a second-place finish in the Oregon 5A State Championships in the weight class of 119lbs.
 
Binkerd's father, Kevin Binkerd, was an extremely successful wrestler for the Boxers. He was a three-time Northwest Conference Champion, named Outstanding Wrestler at the 1982 NAIA Regional Wrestling Championship, and finished second at the 1982 NAIA National Tournament. Kevin was inducted into the Pacific Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.
 
"I am extremely excited to renew the vigor, and restore the tradition of the Boxer Wrestling Program," Binkerd said.
 
For the latest information on Pacific Athletics, make sure to check out GoBoxers.com. You can also find the Boxers on social media at @GoBoxers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
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