Rivera Named Head Wrestling Coach at CSU Bakersfield

NDSU’s Rivera Named Head Wrestling Coach at CSU Bakersfield
Wes Offerman
Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
North Dakota State University

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – North Dakota State assistant wrestling coach Manny Rivera has been named the head coach at CSU Bakersfield, it was announced Wednesday, July 6.

Rivera spent five seasons as an assistant coach for the Bison after coming to NDSU prior to the 2011-12 season. He helped guide the Bison to Western Wrestling Conference regular season titles in 2013 and 2015, as well as back-to-back NCAA West Region / WWC Tournament championships in 2014 and 2015.

A native of El Monte, Calif., Rivera was a three-time NCAA qualifier at Minnesota and earned All-America honors as a senior after finishing seventh at 141 pounds at the NCAA Championships. He was also a starter on Minnesota’s 2007 national championship team and amassed a career record of 113-40.

CSUB is an NCAA Division I program that is an affiliate member of the Pac-12 Conference for wrestling. Rivera becomes just the fourth head coach in CSUB history, replacing Mike Mendoza who took over as head coach at Boise State last month.