Fight On State caught up with McCoy to discuss his decision to head west to Stanford and talk about the challenges and opportunities he sees ahead of him.
McCoy has been coaching in the collegiate ranks for the last eight years, which included a three-year tenure at Penn State and a five-year tenure at Lehigh, but this will be his first head-coaching position.
"I have wanted to be a head coach for a few years, but the timing wasn't right with my competitive career," McCoy explained. "Once I retired from competing, it was the next logical step for me."
A three-time All-American himself, he has coached 14 All-Americans, two NCAA champions and four EIWA championships. He has also served as the director of wrestling and head coach of the Lehigh Valley Athletic Club.
Despite the incredible opportunity the new job presents, he expects some significant challeges with a move across the nation into a head-coaching role. "The biggest challenge will be adjusting to living so far away from everything I know and love — people, places and relationships," he explained. "I have lived on the East Coast my entire life, so it will be tough to get used to living out West, but I have always believed in the saying 'nothing worth having is easy' and I am willing to endure the challenges in order to reach my goals."
Speaking of goals, he discussed the objectives he has set forth for both himself and the Cardinal program, saying, "It's going to be a work in progress. I want to continue the tradition that Stanford has set both academically and athletically. My goals are to get Stanford to become the premiere wrestling program in the West and from there, the sky's the limit. I want kids to come to Stanford and feel like the can become Pac-10 champions, NCAA All-Americans and NCAA champions."
McCoy views the move as natural one for his career, which has enjoyed success at every level of competition. He also sees it as an incredible next step to a storied career on the mat.
"The chance to be a part of one of the best academic institutions and the best athletic departments in the country is amazing," he explained. "The chance to continue where the past coaches left off and bring Stanford wrestling to the highest level it possibly can reach really excites me."