Jimmy Rollins (Photo/Dana College)
The newest addition to the Dana College wrestling program is a very familiar face. Jimmy Rollins, a 2008 Dana graduate, returns to the program to join the coaching staff at the Blair, Nebraska school after a one-year absence.
Rollins spent the 2008-09 season as an assistant wrestling coach with the newly formed Iowa Lakes Community College wrestling program, where he helped lead the Lakers program to a seventh place finish at the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) championships in 2008-09. While at Iowa Lakes, Rollins helped produce 4 All-Americans and a national finalist.
Prior to last season, Rollins worked on the Dana College coaching staff as a student assistant. During that time he helped produce 13 NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) All-Americans as well as five Academic All-Americans. In the 2006-2007 season, the Vikings were GPAC (Great Plains Athletic Conference) and North Region Champions. The team was equally impressive on the mat and in the classroom, placing fourth at the national tournament, and with the top grade point average in the nation. In the 2007-2008 season, Dana repeated as GPAC champions and finished the season in fifth place at the NAIA national tournament.
Before launching his coaching career at Dana, Rollins began his collegiate wrestling career at Gloucester County College in New Jersey. As a freshman, he was the first ever undefeated national champion in the school history winning the NJCAA crown at 125 lbs. In his sophomore season, he won the Mid-Atlantic region title, but was injured in his semi-final match forcing him to pull out of the tournament and finished in sixth place garnering another All-American season. Rollins then transferred to Dana. During his junior season, he won GPAC and Central Region titles and finished 3rd in the NAIA national tournament. As a senior, Rollins defended his Central region crown and capped off his career on top of the podium winning the 133 lb title at the NAIA national tournament. That season Dana College also won the NAIA team title with a record-breaking performance of 193 points.
"We are very excited to have Coach Rollins back on staff," commented Dana College head coach Beau Vest. "He brings a wealth of experience and energy to the room. Jimmy will help everyone in our room move to that next level."
Rollins is a 2008 graduate from Dana College with his Education degree in Physical Education.
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