GREAT FALLS — With the new year, the University of Providence’s athletic teams are back at work, but the women’s wrestling program will also be adjusting to a new coach as the Argos welcome Matt Atwood. Atwood was hired at UP after being head coach of the women’s program at Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska.
Atwood's hiring was originally announced in early December, but he spoke to the media on Wednesday at an Argo press conference.
"It was a long trip up here, I drove a big truck 17 hours straight and got here real late. And then late in the night, early in the morning, still got a lot of stuff to unpack. But so far, it's been good," Atwood said. "I've been kind of overwhelmed stuff, just trying to learn the new processes here to a different university as well."
Atwood is still getting to know a few of his athletes, and he said this most immediate challenge this year will be playing catch-up, as other teams in the Cascade Collegiate Conference have already been competing.
The Argos come into the season ranked ninth in the NAIA preseason polls, and Atwood hopes to continue to build on that.
"I think we're in a really good location. I have a lot of my recruits are from the West Coast, and I'd like to tap in more here in the north. So I guess my goals would be to, I'd like to get the girls more involved in like some camps and stuff this summer, kind of get involved here," Atwood said. "But I think we're fairly young as well. I haven't got to meet a lot of the girls and I'm still kind of learning everything, but I know the girls that are here and the girls that are coming in are really good quality girls. So I'm excited for everything coming up."
