LEBANON -- Cumberland University Director of Athletics Ron Pavan announced the hiring of former CU graduate assistant Todd Allen (below) as the wrestling head coach effective immediately.

The Hodgenville, Ky., native spent the 2006-07 and 2007-08 academic year as a graduate  assistant  with  the Bulldog program, helping Corey Bleaken, Theo Dotson and Jordan Powers earn All-America honors at the NAIA Championships. Kyle Knox also earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete accolades during both of those seasons.

“We are very happy to add Todd to our staff. He is familiar with our program and should be a great addition at Cumberland,” Pavan said. “Todd’s familiarity with the Mid-South Conference and the region should also be a great asset to the Bulldog program.”

Allen wrestled collegiately at the University of the Cumberlands, garnering All-America honors as a junior (third place) and senior (eighth place) in his only two national tournament appearances.

The Patriots finished second at the 2006 NWCA Cliff Keen National Duals and third at the 2006 NAIA Championships.

Allen is currently a Company Commander in the Kentucky National Guard and stationed in Kuwait and will return in July to take over the program full-time.

In the meantime he will hire an assistant coach and begin recruiting while continuing to serve his country in the Persian Gulf.

He received a bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of the Cumberlands in 2006 and a master’s in Business Administration from Cumberland University in 2008.