Wrestling Coaches

Todd Beckerman, former Nebraska All-American, was named the head wrestling coach at Brown University on June 14, 2013. Beckerman will head the Bears' coaching staff following eight successful seasons at the University of Maryland, where he served as the head assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

"We're excited to have Todd Beckerman lead our wrestling program," said Brown Director of Athletics Jack Hayes. "Todd was an outstanding student-athlete and he has continued that success as an accomplished coach with proven credentials. He brings tremendous experience and leadership to the position as well as a clear commitment to the direction of the program." 

"I'm honored and excited to become the head coach at Brown, one of the most prestigious universities in the country," said Beckerman. "I would like to thank Jack Hayes and the rest of the search committee for giving me this opportunity. I look forward to working with the student-athletes, administration, and alumni to honor Brown's legacy while building a successful, nationally recognized program."

Beckerman, who has 12 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level, comes to Brown following an impressive stint at Maryland, where he helped lead the Terrapins to four ACC Championships in the last eight years, including back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012.

Individually, Maryland has produced 16 different and 26 total conference champions during Beckerman's tenure, while six ACC champions directly trained with the two-time All-American. Under Beckerman's tutelage, seven wrestlers have earned All-American honors, including a trio of multiple winners. Beckerman also coached Steven Bell to a sixth-place finish at the 2009 NCAA Championships and an eighth-place finish at the 2010 NCAA Championships. Since 2006, 38 Maryland wrestlers were named to the All-ACC team, while two earned ACC Wrestler of the Year honors.

In addition to assisting with recruiting, coaching, travel, budgeting, academic support and several other administrative and development duties, Beckerman spearheaded a social media campaign that launched the Maryland program into the national spotlight. For his social media efforts, Beckerman and Maryland won the "The Gold Standard" award by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Best of Brand Awards in 2012.

Prior to his arrival at Maryland, Beckerman spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the Naval Academy. In 2004, Navy posted its best record since 1993 and had a school-record eight wrestlers record 25-win seasons. 

In addition to stints at Maryland and Navy, Beckerman served as a volunteer coach at Nebraska during the 2002-03 season, where he primarily coached the lower weight classes and assisted with recruiting. He began his career as an administrative assistant at Penn State in 2001-02, where he worked one-on-one with student-athletes and directed summer camps.

A four-year letterwinner and two-time All-American at Nebraska, Beckerman graduated in 2001 with a B.S. in human resources and family sciences. In addition, he also earned a Master's in Education from Nebraska with an emphasis in post-secondary athletics in 2007.

As a student-athlete, Beckman put together a decorated career on the mat and racked up a lofty list of accolades while wrestling for the Huskers. He earned All-American status at the 2000 and 2001 NCAA Championships and also earned Academic All-Big 12 honors in both seasons. As a senior, the team captain was named the 2000-01 Nebraska Male Athlete of the Year and the Husker Power lifter of the Year, and also competed internationally in 1999 and 2000 with the Big 12 All-Star Wrestling Team.

Beckerman and his wife, Christina, have one daughter, Grace.

"What They're Saying About Todd Beckerman"

"I had the pleasure of coaching Todd at the University of Nebraska and he had an outstanding career there. Todd has definitely paid his dues as an assistant coach and is a true professional in every sense of the word. I am happy for both Brown University, for choosing Todd, and for the sport of wrestling. Having a young coach with his character will help not only Brown, but also our sport."
Mark Cody – University of Oklahoma Head Coach 

"Brown University is getting a super coach, one of the best young coaches in the business. Todd has developed and prepared to put himself in this position. The student-athletes who are currently at Brown, along with future student-athletes, will be benefiting from a coach who will prepare them for life."
Mark Manning – University of Nebraska Head Coach 

"I am really excited for Todd. This is a great opportunity. It's a bitter sweet moment for us and our program, because he does mean so much to the Maryland Wrestling Family. But, we are really excited for his opportunity and look forward to some great things from him as the head coach at Brown."
Kerry McCoy – University of Maryland Head Coach 

"As a Brown graduate, I am very excited about the hiring of Todd Beckerman. He is a proven leader with a demonstrated history of success as a wrestler and a coach. He has mentored under some of our top coaches and is uniquely positioned to build on the rich history of Brown wrestling."
Pat Tocci '93 – Senior Director at the National Wrestling Coaches Association

John Clark begins his fifth season as an assistant coach at Brown. Clark, a two-time All-American and 2004 graduate of Ohio State, has spent one season each coaching at Stanford and Lehigh. He serves as the recruiting coordinator and works with wrestlers from 157 pounds and up. Before coming to Brown, Clark was the head coach of the Lehigh Valley Athletic Club in addition to his duties as an assistant at Lehigh. He worked primarily with the Mountain Hawks' middleweights. It was his second season as an assistant coach, after one year at Stanford.

In four seasons at Ohio State, Clark was a four-time NCAA qualifier. He was a two-time All-American at 165 pounds, finishing sixth in his junior year and fifth as a senior. He was the runner-up at 165 at the Big Ten Championship in 2002 and 2004. He is ranked fourth all-time at Ohio State in wins with 134, and is ranked third in takedowns (486) and team points (432.0). He graduated in 2004 with a degree in Sociology, spending a year in sales before joining the Stanford staff.

Assistant coach Tyler Grayson began his coaching career with the Bears in late August of 2011. A four-year letterwinner at Central Michigan, Grayson was an NCAA Qualifier (Round of 12) in 2010 with the Chippewas and a 2010 Mid-American Conference Champion. He lastly served as an assistant coach at Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kan., a program that boasts eight National Championships and 45 All-Americans at the JUCO level.

"We feel very lucky to add someone of Tyler's caliber to the Brown wrestling program," said Amato. "He brings a great deal of Division I experience and will add an extremely technical coach to our staff." 

Last season at Neosho CCC, Grayson helped guide the Panthers to a sixth-place tie as a team at the NJCAA Districts, and qualified four wrestlers for Nationals. 

A native of Gladstone, Mo., Grayson headed North to Central Michigan where he compiled 31 wins in his first three seasons. His senior year he finished with a 20-7 overall mark and 13-2 dual meet record on his way to a conference championship at 165 pounds.

Grayson is also a two-time Midlands placer (sixth & eighth), two-time University Nationals placer (second & seventh) and an All-American and two-time state champion at the high school level. 

Mehdi Kaveh has been a volunteer assistant coach with the Brown wrestling team since 2004, coming to the Bears after competing with the Iranian National Team from 1988-2001, a span of 13 years.  Kaveh was a four-time Iranian National Champion during that time, and also won the Goodwill Games.

"With Mehdi's vast international experience, he brings a wealth of knowledge and world class technique to our program," said assistant coach John Clark upon Kaveh's arrival.

Kaveh and his wife Samira have one son, Ali, and reside in Worcester, Mass.