MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State women's wrestling program didn't need to search far to find a new coach to guide the Beavers.

Minot State's Vice President for Student Affairs and Intercollegiate Athletics, Kevin Harmon, is pleased to announce that Beavers assistant coach Keegan Berry has been named the new head coach for women's wrestling.

Berry, a graduate of Minot State, spent the last 3 seasons as an assistant coach for the program and recently served as interim head coach for the past month after head coach Brittney Mitchem announced her resignation. He begins his duties as head coach immediately.

"We are excited to name Keegan Berry as the next head women's wrestling coach at Minot State University," Harmon said. "Keegan has been instrumental in the development and growth of our program, and he offers our student-athletes the best possible opportunity for a smooth and successful transition. His leadership, work ethic, and commitment to our mission make him the right person to guide this program forward."

"I am extremely excited to take over as head coach of this program," said Berry, who, along with serving as assistant coach for the last 3 seasons, also served as the Director of Athletic Facility Operations at Minot State. "We have a great foundation that has been built over the past 4 years, and I am excited to continue to grow and mold this program into something special.

"I think what drove me to want to take over as the head coach of this program is seeing not only the potential that this program already has, but the opportunity in front of us to go and be a program that any young woman in the nation could be proud to be a part of," he added. "That is something so unique and special that isn't available at a lot of Division II programs in any sport."

A 2021 graduate from Minot State with a degree in Physical Education, Berry also earned his master's in Sports Management from Minot State in 2023 while serving as a graduate assistant coach for the Beaver men's wrestling team for the 2022-23 season.

During his time competing on the mats, he racked up 60 career wins, which ranks 4th in Minot State's D-II era.

Berry became an assistant coach with the Minot State women's wrestling team in the summer of 2023, prior to the program's second year of competition.

Along with his collegiate coaching experience, Berry also served as assistant coach from 2017 to present for the Dakota Rattlers wrestling club, was a camp counselor at the Robinson Intensive Wrestling Camps in Minneapolis, Minn., in 2018 and 2019, and served as a volunteer coach for Special Olympics from 2017-19.

"As a former wrestler and a valued member of the Minot State University community, Keegan understands firsthand what it takes to succeed both on the mat and in the classroom," Harmon said. "He has built strong relationships with our student-athletes and has played a key role in shaping the culture of our program. We have great confidence in Keegan's ability to continue building a competitive program that represents Minot State with pride."

Berry takes over a program that has enjoyed great success in just a few seasons, sending six wrestlers to the NCWWC National Tournament over the last 4 seasons, which has racked up 17 duals wins, and which has seen Ari Korish, Bella Hernandez, Haleigh Lematta, and Nina Sandoval all win individual tournament titles.

Success the Beavers' new head coach plans to expand upon with women's wrestling having completed its first year as an NCAA Championships sport.

"We have a unique opportunity as the only program at this University to go and compete against NCAA Division I programs within our own region," Berry said. "My first goal is to get our first program All-American and continue to grow the name of Minot State University on the national stage. I want to be the destination program for women's wrestlers in surrounding states, and throughout the nation, ultimately leading us to competing with the best teams in the country.

"I know Rome wasn't built in a day, but one building block at a time, and I truly think we can get there. We are moving in the right direction."