Press Release : Northern Names Wrestling Coach

Former NAIA All-American Tyson Thivierge has been named wrestling coach at Montana State-Northern, athletics director Mark Samson said Thursday.

Thivierge, of Clarkston, Wash., finished in the top four in the NAIA national tournament from 1999 to 2002, winning the 184-pound national championship in 2002.

He was also named the outstanding wrestler of the NAIA meet.

"Tyson is a great fit for our wrestling program and the Havre community," Samson said. "We are very pleased to have Tyson joining our staff at MSU-Northern."

Thivierge, who holds a degree in physical education from Northern, is the head wrestling coach at Carson City High in Nevada. He begins his duties at Northern immediately.

"This has been my dream and my family and I are very excited," Thivierge said. "We love Havre and we can't wait to get up there."

Thivierge and his wife, Stephanie, have two children.

Thivierge takes over for Dan Troupe, whose contract wasn't renewed after three seasons in which the Lights finished 15th, 10th and ninth at the NAIA national tournament.

Northern's previous coach, David Ray, led the Lights to four NAIA national championships and a runner-up finish over a span of seven seasons.