Montreat College

In late May of 2023, Montreat College Athletics named former wrestling student-athlete Jim Connaghan as its Associate Head Men's Wrestling Coach. Connaghan was then promoted to Head Men's Wrestling Coach in February of 2024. He enters his fourth season at the helm of the men's wrestling program in 2026-27.

YEAR-BY-YEAR HIGHLIGHTS

2025-26

• Went 4-4 (1-3 AAC) during the season.
• Achieved the program’s most points in a team dual and the program’s largest margin of victory in a team dual versus Lyon College (W 57-0 1/3).
• Secured a trio of victories at the Hawk Duals (1/3).
• Coached three different Cavaliers to beat a nationally-ranked wrestler, while Boedi Kirkland placed fifth at the Missouri Valley Invite (1/23-24).
• Received votes in the NAIA Men’s Wrestling Coaches’ Top 25 for the first time since Oct. 19, 2023 (RV, 12 points, in Rating No. 6 on 1/29).
• Placed eighth of 10 programs at the AAC Men’s Wrestling Championships (36.5 points).
• Aided Kane Bryson (4th at 125), Sam Gosnell (5th at 125) and Boedi Kirkland (6th at 149) to place at the AAC Men’s Wrestling Championships (2/20-21).
• Placed 38th out of 54 scoring programs at the 2026 NAIA Men’s Wrestling Championships (8.0 points).
• First time in program history that two Montreat College men’s wrestlers secured a win at nationals in the same season.
• Coached Boedi Kirkland to match the program record for most wins by an individual at the national championships in a single season (2).
• Coached Boedi Kirkland to set the program record for most wins in a single season (33).
• Went .500 or better in team duals for the first time since 2022-23 (4-4 overall in 2025-26).
• Athlete achievements: 2 NAIA National Qualifiers, 2 CSC Academic All-District® Men’s At-Large Team members, 4 NAIA Scholar-Athletes and 6 AAC All-Academic Team selections. 

2024-25

• Went 1-13 (1-6 AAC) during the season.
• Picked up an AAC road dual victory at Pikeville (W 36-22 on 12/6).
• Finished 11th out of 11 teams at the AAC Men's Wrestling Championships (13.0 points).
• Athlete achievements: 3 CSC Academic All-District® At-Large honorees, 5 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athletes, 8 AAC All-Academic Team members.

2023-24

• Went 4-10 (4-6 AAC) during the season.
• Won three straight duals in January.
• Finished 5th out of 12 teams at the AAC Men's Wrestling Championships.
• Received votes in the preseason version of the NAIA Men's Wrestling Coaches' Top 20 Poll, appearing in eight straight polls dating back to last season.
• Athlete achievements: 2 AAC Wrestlers of the Week, 1 CSC Academic All-District® Men's At-Large Team honoree, 8 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athletes and 7 AAC All-Academic Team members.

PRIOR TO MONTREAT

During the 2022-23 school year, Connaghan assisted with the wrestling programs at Montreat. While obtaining his degree in exercise science from the college, the Englewood, Fla. native held a student assistant position with men's wrestling and acted as a strength and conditioning coach for both wrestling programs.

Connaghan wrestled for the Cavaliers for two seasons following time spent at Graceland University and Iowa Lakes Community College. He amassed several honors over his career, including placing at the 2018 Armed Forces Wrestling Tournament, qualifying for NJCAA nationals in 2014 and placing at the Florida high school state tournament in 2013.

Connaghan, who graduated from Montreat cum laude in 2023, lives in Old Fort, N.C. with his wife, Sam.

COACHING RECORD
 

Year	School	Overall Record			Conference Record
		W	L	Pct.	W	L	Pct.
2025-26	Montreat	4	4	0.500	1	3	0.250
2024-25	Montreat	1	13	0.071	1	6	0.143
2023-24	Montreat	4	10	0.286	4	6	0.400
3 seasons		9	27	0.250	6	15	0.286