February 2008 Archives

Petty, who has spent the past two seasons at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, will assume his duties immediately as the Lancers prepare to start wrestling in the fall of 2008.

“After completing a nationwide search for the inaugural wrestling coach at CBU, we are pleased to announce the hiring of John Petty,” said Steele. “John possesses the experience, passion and character we believe will create an outstanding wrestling program and develop champions on the mat and well beyond. Young people will be challenged to excellence in all areas of their lives by a coach who models excellence on a daily basis.  It is a pleasure to welcome John to the CBU family.”

Northwestern is currently ranked No. 10 in the NAIA and are in position to make yet another NAIA National Tournament appearance. In Petty’s first year at the helm in 2006-07, the Raiders finished 15^th at the national tournament, improving upon the team’s 24^th place showing in 2006. The Raiders, who were also Great Plains Athletic Conference runners-up, had three NAIA All-Americans, their first All-Americans since 2003 and most in one season since 1998.

Northwestern also won the NAIA Champion of Character Sportsmanship Award and were ranked as high as No. 10 during the season. The Raiders had a team GPA of 3.08, which was eighth best in the nation.

Prior to taking over at Northwestern, Petty spent three seasons as the head coach at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Ariz. During his stint there from the 2003-04 season to the 2005-06 season, Petty led the Eagles to three straight Top 10 finishes at the NAIA Tournament, including a fifth place finish in 2006. During that season, the Eagles had a team GPA of 3.09.

In 2005, Petty was named regional coach of the year as he led the Eagles to a regional title. The Eagles were also awarded the NAIA Champion of Character Sportsmanship Award at the national tournament that same year. In his three seasons at ERAU, he coached 15 All-Americans and six Scholar-Athletes.

In addition to his coaching duties at ERAU, Petty also served as the Director of Athletic Academic Support and has been the NAIA’s second vice president of the Wrestling Coaches’ Association since 2005.

Prior to his stint at Embry-Riddle, Petty spent two years teaching and coaching at the high school level. From 1991-96, Petty served as an aviation officer in the United States Army.

“I am honored to have been chosen as the first head coach of the California Baptist University wrestling program,” said Petty. “I am excited for the opportunity and look forward to building the program into what it is expected at CBU Athletics—a winner both on and off the competition surface. Character development as well as academic and athletic excellence will be the foundational pillars upon which we will build this program. The resources are here for a successful program, and I look forward to creating relationships and competing for championships here at CBU.”

Petty wrestled two seasons at Fresno State and then was a five-time U.S. National Open Champion in the Master’s Division and a 10-time U.S. National All-American in the same division. He also wrestled two seasons at Fresno City College and was an All-American and team captain for the 1989 state champions.

He received his bachelor’s of business administration from Fresno State in 1991 and then earned his master’s in kinesiology from Fresno Pacific in 2006.

Petty and his wife, Sheila, have three daughters, Janaya, Janessa and Jada.