Chris Guillot Resigns as Head Wrestling Coach
Chris Guillot, Head Wrestling Coach at FHNW, resigned on Thursday, coming off of a fourth-place run by the men's team at Nationals. Guillot, who joined the program in the spring of the 2019-20 season, spent five and a half years at the helm. During his tenure, the men's team outputted 49 National Qualifiers, with 15 All-Americans, eight National Champs, and one Runner-up. The men's team also had three top-ten finishes at Nationals, two KJCCC Runner-up finishes, and a District Championship. Additionally, Chinzorig Tsermaa, Jett Strickenberger, and Otgonbayar Batsuuri all earned the Ernest B. Gould—Most Outstanding Wrestler Award during their championship runs.
In addition to the success of the men’s program, Coach Guillot also started up a women’s wrestling program at FHNW in the 2021-22 school year. In the 2022-23 season, the women’s team competed in the inaugural NJCAA Women’s Wrestling Championship, with two wrestlers earning All-American honors and one securing a Runner-up finish.
Statement from Coach Guillot:
"I want to thank Ben Schears and NWKTC/FHNW for giving me the opportunity to be a college coach. It was a dream of mine that I thought had passed me by because I chose to go into the business world instead of continuing to coach in my mid-20s. When I got the call in December 2019, my wife said, 'Chris, you need to do this for yourself, and I support you.' Lisa has made great sacrifices for our family and our whole marriage. We have been together for 36 years this October! It is now time to move on for what's best for Lisa and myself. I hope a four-year or junior college coaching opportunity comes in a larger populated area. If not, I will be looking to go back to sales, which is my second love. It has been a great run here at the Tech! I set goals, and many were reached; some were not, but that is life. I am super grateful for the opportunity to reach high and work relentlessly at sharpening my saw each and every day to strive to be better. I hope the wrestlers still at FHNW look at their options to continue to wrestle at the next level. I know they have the potential to achieve great things, including becoming All-Americans.”
Also of note, nine of Tech's wrestlers under Coach Guillot have gone on to compete at the NAIA, NCAA Division I, and Division II levels. Notable wrestlers include: Chinges Tsermaa (1x NAIA All-American for Doane), Jacobi Deal (1x NCAA DII Runner-up for UNK), Jacari Deal (1x NCAA DII All-American for UNK), Jett Strickenberger (2x NCAA DI Qualifier and 1x Big 12 Champ for West Virginia), and Jameel Coles (1x NAIA All-American for Grand View).