TexasWrestling
Wayland Baptist assistant wrestling coach Kiiler Stephens has been promoted to head wrestling coach for both the men’s and women’s programs.
Stephens, the third head coach in the 11-year history of the program, replaces Aaron Meister, who accepted a similar position at Friends University in his home state of Kansas. Meister had been with the WBU wrestling program since the beginning in 2010, first serving as assistant coach under Johnny Cobb then becoming head coach when Cobb retired prior to the 2014-15 season.
Now the job belongs to Stephens, who joined the Pioneers as an assistant this past August. In that short time, he has made a favorable impression on many at Wayland, including athletics director Rick Cooper.
“We’re very excited to have such a quality man and successful coach as Kiiler on staff and ready to step into that role,” Cooper said. “He has a lot of people who think very highly of him as a mentor coach and leader.
“He and (assistant) Coach (Glenn) Gray will make an excellent team of coaches moving forward.”
Stephens is looking forward to leading the Pioneers’ program.
“I’m really excited. It’s my first opportunity to coach at this level. It’s a different ballgame with recruiting and a lot of the management with running two teams at this level. It’s a big challenge but something I’m excited for.”
A native of Greeley, Colo., Stephens was a successful high school wrestling coach in Branson, Mo., from 1997-2004 and in Willard, Mo., from 2004-18. At Willard, his teams were top 10 team in the state every year and produced a dozen state champions and several NCAA Division I wrestlers.
He served as president of the Missouri Wrestling Association from 2008-14 and was pivotal in creating content for coaches in Missouri. In 2012 he was selected to coach Team Missouri in the MOKAN Classic.
He and his family moved to Texas and Stephens stepped away from coaching for a brief period before deciding to return.
“I’ve bought in 100 percent,” he said. “I feel like God works in mysterious ways. He put me in a place I didn’t know I would have so much love for. I’m extremely honored Wayland chose me and I’ll do everything in my power to see that Wayland wrestling is a top-notch program year-in and year-out.”
Stephens inherits a women’s program at Wayland that is ranked No. 1 in the NAIA.
“We have some amazingly talented young women who work really hard. Coach Meister and his staff over the past several years have done a great job of recruiting really good wrestlers and good girls. I haven’t been around so many talented people, top to bottom, in a long time. They work hard and deserve everything they get.”
Stephens said he wants to “build off the excellent foundation Coach Cobb and Coach Meister have built. They created a very high standard, not only with wrestling but in building character. They put an emphasis on recruiting student-athletes that are not only great wrestlers but also successful people.”
Stephens is thankful for the backing the wrestling program receives at Wayland.
“There is so much support from the athletic department and the whole administration. They really set you up to succeed.”
Stephens and his wife, Lisa, have a son, Joe, a high school senior, and a 13-year-old daughter, London.
