Mike Mena is in his second season as an assistant coach at CSUB. Mena came to the Roadrunners' program
after spending nine seasons as an assistant coach at Indiana.
Mena worked extensively with the Hoosier lightweights. His tutelage led
to a 125-lbs. national championship for Indiana in three times since 2005. In
2008-09, Mena guided Angel Escobedo to an incredible 34-1 season that ended
with the national title after watching Joe Dubuque snag back-to-back 125-lbs.
national championships in 2005 and 2006 while donning the Cream and
Crimson. Dubuque became the first
wrestler in IU's 97-year history to win back-to-back national championships.
Mena was also crucial in the development of Brandon Becker, a three-time
All-American.
In 2004-05, Mena helped coach Becker, Dubuque and Pat DeGain to All-American
honors at the NCAA Championships. He has helped coach 10 IU wrestlers to
All-American status, more than 28 NCAA qualifiers and helped bring IU its first
NCAA champion in 15 years in Dubuque. In 2005, Mena helped lead the Hoosiers to
a top-10 and top-five finish at the NCAA and Big Ten Championships,
respectively. Mena has also seen 20 student-athletes receive Academic All-Big
Ten recognition, as well as four NWCA Scholar Athletes.
Mena arrived in Bloomington after spending three years training with the Hawkeye
Wrestling Club, coached by the legendary Dan Gable. He trained in international
freestyle wrestling and operated his own youth wrestling school full-time,
where he coached several state and national champions.
Mena is a three-time U.S. freestyle national team member, earning that
status by finishing in the top three at the U.S. World Team Trials in 1999,
2001 and 2003. Mena also competed at the 2000 Olympic trials in Dallas,
finishing fifth, while at the 2004 USA Olympic Trials in Indianapolis and
placed seventh. At the Acropolis Tournament in Athens, Greece, Mena placed
second at 55kg/121 pounds.
Mena first made the U.S. National team in 1999, claiming the bronze medal at
the U.S. World Team Trials in Seattle. He also won gold medals at the New York
Athletic Club International, Sunkist International and the 2000 Olympic
Qualification International in Mexico. By winning the gold in Mexico, Mena
ensured the U.S. would qualify the 119-pound weight class to the Olympic Games
in Sydney, Australia. Additionally, he has placed six times at the U.S. senior
level Freestyle National Championship.
Mena graduated from the University of Iowa in 1997 with a bachelor's degree
in art. At Iowa, he garnered All-American nods four times with a career record
of 118-24. In 1997, Mena grappled his way to a national final appearance and
captured a Big Ten title in 1995. Mena also appeared in three Big Ten finals and
won Midland titles in 1994 and 1995.
The Iowa graduate played an important part on three national championship
teams and served as a co-captain at Iowa in 1997. That season, Mena helped lead
the Hawkeyes to a Division I NCAA Champion record for most team points scored
(172).
The Rock Falls, Ill., native is a graduate of Newman Central Catholic H.S.
Mena is the only four-time undefeated state champion in the history of Illinois
wrestling. He finished his career with a 157-0-1 record. While in high school,
Mena earned first-team All-America status as an underclassman. He also served
as a member of the Cadet and Junior World Teams. In addition, Mena played
football on the 1991 State Championship team.
Mena has three daughters, Elisia, Makaley and Gracie.
