Fairmont State Names First Women’s Wrestling Coach in Program History
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Fairmont State University is officially building a new chapter in its athletics history.
The university announced the hiring of Sami Lusk as the first head women’s wrestling coach in program history as Fairmont State prepares to launch its new women’s wrestling program.
The announcement marks another milestone for women’s athletics and adds Fairmont State to the growing number of universities investing in one of the fastest growing collegiate sports in the country.
Lusk arrives in Fairmont following a successful season at Wartburg College, where she served as assistant women’s wrestling coach and sports nutritionist. During the 2025 to 2026 season, the program earned a National Dual Championship, won its conference title, finished regional runner up, and placed 11th at the inaugural NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships.
Beyond competition results, Wartburg also led the NCAA with 21 Academic All Americans and recorded one of the nation’s top team GPAs.
“I am incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to become the first head women’s wrestling coach in Fairmont State history,” Lusk said in the university announcement. “To be trusted with building this program from the ground up is something I don’t take lightly and I am excited to lay a foundation built on hard work, discipline, and a championship mindset.”
Before her time at Wartburg, Lusk coached at Caldwell Girls High School in Idaho, where she helped lead the program to one of its strongest seasons and earned recognition as the 2025 Girls Coach of the Year.
As an athlete, Lusk competed at Grand View University after becoming the first female wrestler in her high school program’s history. She later earned All America honors and set the school’s single season pins record.
Fairmont State Athletics Director Greg Bamberger said Lusk’s experience as both a competitor and coach helped make her the right fit to launch the program.
Women’s wrestling continues to see rapid growth nationally at both the collegiate and high school levels, with more schools adding opportunities for female student athletes each year.
For Fairmont State, the hire represents the beginning of a new era and the opportunity to build a program from day one.
Read the full announcement and learn more at Fairmont State Athletics:
https://fightingfalcons.com/news/2026/5/26/womens-wrestling-fairmont-state-announces-hiring-of-first-head-womens-wrestling-coach-in-program-history.aspx
