GREELEY, Colo. - University of Northern Colorado director of athletics Jay Hinrichs today announced that Ben Cherrington will serve as the interim head coach of the wrestling team for the 2009-10 season.

"We are pleased to elevate Coach Cherrington to this most important position within our department," said Hinrichs. "We are confident that Cherrington has the ability to continue the success of Northern Colorado wrestling has had in the past, while he achieves his personal goals of bringing NCAA Championship quality student-athletes to campus."

Cherrington has served as an assistant coach for the Bears for the past two years after joining from an extremely successful collegiate career at Boise State. Cherrington was crowned the 2006 NCAA Division I Champion at 157 pounds, winning 20 straight matches en route to the title. He won three Pac-10 Conference titles and advanced to four NCAA tournaments. He posted a record of 93-32 throughout his time as a Bronco.

"I would like to thank Jay Hinrichs and the rest of the administration for giving me this opportunity," said Cherrington. "I look forward to this upcoming season at the helm of Northern Colorado wrestling.  Over the next year I will look to continue to build the Northern Colorado wrestling into a top Division I program.  We have all of the necessary resources and support to become a top team.  It will be my job to develop our athletes both on and off the mat, and make sure they represent UNC and the community of Greeley in a manner we can all be proud of.

"I would also like to thank Jack Maughan for all he has done for UNC wrestling and for me in my two years of working with him. I realize that this will be a challenging task and it will not happen overnight, but I welcome the challenge and look forward to the immediate and distant future of UNC wrestling."

Cherrington is a well-known name in Colorado wrestling, as he wrestled for his father Cal Cherrington at Middle Park High School in Granby. There he compiled a record of 141-3 and won three state titles and was runner-up in his sophomore season. As a senior, he was named the 3A Outstanding Wrestler.

Cherrington and his wife Katie reside in Greeley and are the proud parents of a newborn son, Caden.