University of Oklahoma Men's Wrestling

Cody OU Coaching Staff   Mark Cody Head Coach Fourth Season   Email Coach Cody OU Coaching Staff (O) Mark Cody enters his fourth year as the head wrestling coach at the University of Oklahoma for the 2014-15 season. In his first year at the helm of the program, Cody led the Sooners to a 13th-place finish at the 2012 NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Mo., with a 13-5 overall record. In addition to his team's finish, Cody produced his first two All-Americans in the Crimson and Cream in Kendric Maple (141) and Nick Lester (147). The following season, the Sooners claimed a 12th-place showing at the 2013 NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. Under Codys leadership, five Sooners (Cody Brewer, Maple, N. Lester, Matt Lester and Patrick Graham) qualified for the national tournament. Cody produced his first national champion at OU as he coached Maple to the 141-pound individual NCAA Championship. Maple, who topped Edinboros No. 4 Mitchell Port with a 4-3 decision, became the first Sooner to claim a title since 2005. Maple also earned the second All-America honors of his career with the performance, and redshirt freshman Brewer finished seventh at 133 pounds to earn the first of his career. The 2013-14 season saw Cody lead his squad to its best postseason finish of his tenure, finishing 10th place at the NCAA Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla. A trio of Sooners in Andrew Howe (second at 174), Maple (eighth at 149) and Brewer (eighth at 133) earned All-America status. For the year, OU recorded an 11-5 overall record. Not only have Cody's Sooners found success on the mat, they have also excelled in the classroom as he's coached a total of 11 National Wrestling Coaches Association Division I All-Academic team selections, including three in 2011-12 and two in 2012-13. In 2014, OU placed a nation-best six wrestlers on the squad and tied for 11th place on the All-Academic Team standings with a combined 3.16 GPA. Cody, arrived in Norman after nine years at American University, led the Eagles to a program-best fifth-place finish at the 2011 NCAA Championships. The team produced three All-Americans after qualifying six for the tournament, while also posting a school record 3.48 grade point average. "The wrestling community has watched Mark Cody do remarkable things with his teams at American," said Joe Castiglione, Oklahoma's Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Athletics Director on the hiring of Cody in 2011. "He has maximized limited resources to take a program that was once struggling and transform it into one of the strongest in the country. Along the way, he has earned the respect of his peers as not only a great program builder, but an outstanding teacher and leader. "We have watched Mark's work and spoken with a number of people in the profession who are familiar with him. He is held in very high regard and has proven his ability to operate a program at an extremely high level." Cody explained that it was tradition and the people of the Sooner state that attracted him to the job. "I think back on Tommy Evans, Stan Abel, Jack Spates and the other men who coached there and I really appreciate the tradition they established," Cody said. "It's a responsibility to take that over, but it's also encouraging because it's a school that appreciates and expects success." Two stints at Oklahoma State taught the New York native all he needed to know about Oklahomans. "People make the place and I have always loved the people in Oklahoma," he said. "I lived there twice and always felt they were some of the nicest people in the world." Recent improvements at OU's wrestling facility caught Cody's attention and said things like the upgrades at the Port Robertson Center send a strong message. "The improvements to the facilities indicate a commitment to the sport and that's something that has a great impact on recruiting," he said. "The cupboard is full there in terms of the resources and I look forward to getting started."   Mark Cody Head Coach Fourth Season   Email Coach Cody OU Coaching Staff (O) Mark Cody enters his fourth year as the head wrestling coach at the University of Oklahoma for the 2014-15 season. In his first year at the helm of the program, Cody led the Sooners to a 13th-place finish at the 2012 NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Mo., with a 13-5 overall record. In addition to his team's finish, Cody produced his first two All-Americans in the Crimson and Cream in Kendric Maple (141) and Nick Lester (147). The following season, the Sooners claimed a 12th-place showing at the 2013 NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. Under Codys leadership, five Sooners (Cody Brewer, Maple, N. Lester, Matt Lester and Patrick Graham) qualified for the national tournament. Cody produced his first national champion at OU as he coached Maple to the 141-pound individual NCAA Championship. Maple, who topped Edinboros No. 4 Mitchell Port with a 4-3 decision, became the first Sooner to claim a title since 2005. Maple also earned the second All-America honors of his career with the performance, and redshirt freshman Brewer finished seventh at 133 pounds to earn the first of his career. The 2013-14 season saw Cody lead his squad to its best postseason finish of his tenure, finishing 10th place at the NCAA Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla. A trio of Sooners in Andrew Howe (second at 174), Maple (eighth at 149) and Brewer (eighth at 133) earned All-America status. For the year, OU recorded an 11-5 overall record. Not only have Cody's Sooners found success on the mat, they have also excelled in the classroom as he's coached a total of 11 National Wrestling Coaches Association Division I All-Academic team selections, including three in 2011-12 and two in 2012-13. In 2014, OU placed a nation-best six wrestlers on the squad and tied for 11th place on the All-Academic Team standings with a combined 3.16 GPA. Cody, arrived in Norman after nine years at American University, led the Eagles to a program-best fifth-place finish at the 2011 NCAA Championships. The team produced three All-Americans after qualifying six for the tournament, while also posting a school record 3.48 grade point average. "The wrestling community has watched Mark Cody do remarkable things with his teams at American," said Joe Castiglione, Oklahoma's Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Athletics Director on the hiring of Cody in 2011. "He has maximized limited resources to take a program that was once struggling and transform it into one of the strongest in the country. Along the way, he has earned the respect of his peers as not only a great program builder, but an outstanding teacher and leader. "We have watched Mark's work and spoken with a number of people in the profession who are familiar with him. He is held in very high regard and has proven his ability to operate a program at an extremely high level." Cody explained that it was tradition and the people of the Sooner state that attracted him to the job. "I think back on Tommy Evans, Stan Abel, Jack Spates and the other men who coached there and I really appreciate the tradition they established," Cody said. "It's a responsibility to take that over, but it's also encouraging because it's a school that appreciates and expects success." Two stints at Oklahoma State taught the New York native all he needed to know about Oklahomans. "People make the place and I have always loved the people in Oklahoma," he said. "I lived there twice and always felt they were some of the nicest people in the world." Recent improvements at OU's wrestling facility caught Cody's attention and said things like the upgrades at the Port Robertson Center send a strong message. "The improvements to the facilities indicate a commitment to the sport and that's something that has a great impact on recruiting," he said. "The cupboard is full there in terms of the resources and I look forward to getting started."

Lightner served as volunteer assistant during the 2008-09 season with the Sooners and club coach in 2007. His new duties include recruiting for the program, directing the Oklahoma Open and summer camps, as well as training and instructing current Sooner wrestlers. A product of Marlow, Okla., Lightner recorded one of the most impressive wrestling careers in Oklahoma history from 1998-2001. He claimed the national title in 2001 and was four times crowned Big 12 champion at 141 pounds. Lightner became a four-time All-American, an honor only nine others in school history have claimed. He can be found in various school records, including second in career wins with a 144-16 record. His 37-0 record his senior season led him to the national title and he became the 13th Sooner to go undefeated in a season. "I loved my time here at OU and am excited to have a bigger role in the program," Lightner said. "I am excited to step in and help bring the program back to national prominence. This staff's goal is to lead OU to its first national title since 1974." Wrestling at Marlow High School, Lightner recorded a 130-1 overall record, capturing the state title all four years. The four-year letterman also claimed second at Junior Nationals. In 2005 Lightner moved to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., to focus on his international wrestling career. In 2005 he was crowned champion at U.S. Nationals and the World Team Trials and was named as a World Team member. The following year he was runner-up at U.S. Nationals and placed second at the U.S. World Team Trials. He is married to his wife of seven years, Lindsey.