Coaching Staff

Reid comes to Vista Ridge Youth Club with an extensive list of wrestling history and experience. Reid grew up wrestling in Michigan where he was a 5-time HS All American. He completed his senior year as State champion and compiled an impressive record of 43-1. Reid went on to wrestle for the University of Wisconsin under Olympic Gold Medalist Barry Davis for 5 years and was a 3-year letterman. He also spent 3 years as the assitant wrestling coach for the Wisconsin Jr National Freestyle Team. Reid is very excited to be coaching again and is looking forward to helping grow the club and building fine young boys/girls through the sport of wrestling.

John grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He wrestled from the ages of 10 to 18, and following graduation he was a high school assistant coach for two years. After completing his studies at the University of New Mexico, he moved to Austin in 1995. John has been practicing Brazilian Jui-Jitsu for the past 4 years and currently holds a purple belt. He joined the Vista Ridge Youth Westling Program in 2007 with his son Andy. John looks forward to continuing to teach children the benefits of wrestling.

Although wrestling was not available at the school he attended growing up, Jason has a strong martial arts background. He earned a 2nd degree Blackbelt in TaeKwondo and was an instructor for 2 years. Jason's experience practicing numerous martial arts includes a Master Certification in CDT (Compliance, Direction, Takedown), Brazilian Jiujitsu, Krav Maga, Aikido, Kuk Sool Won, Soryu Karate, and Boxing. Jason's youth coaching experience spans the past 9 years in football and baseball. He is a current board member of the Leander Cedar Park Youth Football League (LCPYFL). Jason currently has 3 boys involved in the VR Youth Program (Dillon, Justin, & Ethan). He will be working with our advanced wrestlers to help improve their work ethic and intensity throughout each season.

Ben grew up in a small town in northern Oklahoma and began wrestling at age seven. As is customary in many smaller communities, students are often encouraged to participate in multiple sports; a practice Ben continued throughout his collegiate career.

Following high school, Ben wrestled for Northeastern Oklahoma for two years before transferring to the University of Oklahoma. After being away from wrestling for a year following his transfer, Ben returned to athletics, but left the wrestling room behind. He spent the next two years playing center midfielder for the University of Oklahoma men’s soccer team.

Ben began coaching youth wrestling in the Austin area with the Vista Ridge club and is returning after a year spent coaching the Cedar Park Youth Wrestling club. Of primary concern to Ben are instilling the values and character in young athletes that are earned through the hard work and dedication needed to be a successful wrestler – traits that will serve all of our athletes as they grow into successful young men and women. Ben has two sons on the Vista Ridge club team and is supported by his wife, May, who is currently serving on the Vista Ridge Youth Wrestling club board of directors.

Eric grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He began wrestling at the age of 9. He often tells a story about how much he hated wrestling for the first two years and that he never could win any matches. It was a good thing that him and his father made a deal to commit 3 years before quitting wrestling. It was in his third year that everything came together and started to become a champion of many tournaments. Eric went on to letter 4 times in high school.

His freshman year in high school he took up Judo to help his wrestling. The opposite happened, his wrestling propelled his Judo to become a National Champion at the Junior Olympics within 2 years.

After high school Eric was accepted and entered the United States Military at West Point, NY. He had the intent on wrestling at West Point but decided to leave the sport in order to ensure he maintained his grades. Although that was a very hard decision to make, he knew that it had to be done in order to graduate. Although he did not wrestle for West Point, he did intramural wrestling and boxing and was undefeated.

Eric currently has a lovely wife named Trisha and 5 Children. His 2 oldest are Christian and Michael and both are wrestlers with our youth club. Eric has a very similar style of wrestling as the other coaches which unifies the coaching staff significantly.

Dub has 10 years of wrestling and coaching experience. He grew up wrestling in Amarillo, Texaswinning state his freshman year and was a state qualifier all three years of his high school career.Dub started a wrestling club at his college in Arizona, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1986 and today the college is a nationally ranked NAIA school. He is a Bronze certified USA Wrestling coach and still has a strong passion for the sport. His son, Mitchell....shares a similar passion for this beloved sport, and is a very strong link in our program. Dub believes in providing a positive approach while pushing kids to maximize their success.

Kirk is returning to the Vista Ridge Youth Club (VRYC) after having helped run the Cedar Park Youth Wrestling Club last season. The VRYC is where Kirks oldest son Tanor (7) first started in wrestling so he feels very thankful to be a part of such an established wrestling club. Kirk was not a coach with the club during his first season but he proudly joined the ranks of the parent volunteer group and has experience from both aspects of the club.

Kirk started wrestling in 7th grade (Middle School) and has a background in both Freestyle and Folkstyle. Kirk ended his High School career as a California Southern Section CIF Champion. Kirk wrestled for one season at the University of Northern Colorado before he enlisted in the US Navy and volunteered for Fast Attack Submarine Service.

In 2007 Kirk was diagnosed with cancer and credits the mental strength that he learned from the sport of wrestling as the reason why he is a thriving cancer survivor today. Wrestling led Kirk to other endurance sports such as Ironman, Triathlon and Ultra Running events. With the tools he learned in wrestling and the sport of Triathlon Kirk was able to raise $50K for cancer research through his own non-profit.

Kirk is dedicated to helping ensure that every kid that comes onto the wrestling mat is given the opportunity to learn the coping skills that will not only make them betters student-athletes but better contributors to our society.

Kirk was just recently selected to the Top 40 under 40 Military Class of 2010. Kirk is married with three kids. His two sons Tanor and Caden wrestle in the club as well.

Martin comes to the Vista Ridge Youth Club with a very impressive wrestling career. His accomplishments include U.S. Competition: Runner-up in the World Team Trials 1993-1991, 2nd at the 1993 U.S. Open placing 3rd and 4th previous years, 2X U.S. Olympic Festival Champion, 2nd Sunkist Open, Asics Junior National Champion 1985, 4 X HS All American. International Competition: Granma Cup (Cuba) Champion 1989, 2nd Andre Guerin Tournament (France) 1992, 6th Petrov Cup (Bulgaria) 1992, 6th Pan American Championships1992. Martin has a 9 year old son, Jordan who is already following in dad's footsteps and shows a true love for the sport as well.

Jason comes to Vista Ridge by way of Colorado, where he wrestled from age 5 through high school. One of 6 boys in his family, as much wrestling happened on the living room floor as did on a wrestling mat. The son of a middle school wrestling coach, Jason began his coaching career in the high school setting in Colorado where he was an assistant coach for 6 years. He coached many state qualifiers and state placers, including two Colorado state champions.

Jason was relieved to find the Vista Ridge Youth Wrestling club for his son, Jack. He is happy to be part of such a knowledgeable and enthusiastic group of coaches. He is grateful for the opportunities the sport has to offer in developing sportsmanship, work ethic, and mental toughness in his son and works to instill these qualities in all athletes in the club.