Wrestling

Franky James
Head Wrestling Coach

In just four short seasons, Campbellsville Wrestling Coach Franky James has built the Tigers into a national power. James has built the program from the ground up and enters his fourth season with the number one ranked team in the NAIA according to the 2007-08 NAIA National Pre-season Wrestling Ratings. He has also produced a National Champion Wrestler as Campbellsville's Zach Flake won the title last season.

During James' tenure, the Tigers have had 30 wrestlers qualify for the NAIA National Tournament. The program has produced nine All-American Wrestlers and has been consistently ranked in the NAIA Top 20, including finishing the 2006 season ranked 14th in America.

Coach James not only demands performance on the mat from his athletes, but also in the classroom. Campbellsville was ranked 2nd in overall team GPA in the nation in 2006-07 and had the 4th best team GPA in 2005-06.

"We push our athletes for excellence on the mat and in the classroom," said James. "I think the results speak for themselves but our goal is to move up in every category. Our goal is to continue to produce National Champions and we want to become the first team to win a National Championship at Campbellsville University," he added..

James came to Campbellsville via Virginia Military Institute and was the 2002 Southern Conference Coach of the Year at U.T. Chattanooga.

It was during that season that he led the Mocs to an undefeated Southern Conference Championship and qualifying five wrestlers to the NCAA tournament.

While at VMI, James served as an assistant for two seasons and helped guide the Keydets to their first ever All-Academy tournament title and the Virginia intercollegiate title for the first time.

For more information on the Campbellsville University Wrestling program, contact Coach James at (270) 789-5148.

Andy Bricker

Graduate Assistant Wrestling Coach

Andy Bricker will enter his third season as the Assistant Coach at Campbellsville University. Bricker comes to CU after a short coaching stint at NCAA Division II Belmont Abbey in North Carolina. Coach Bricker also served as an assistant for 1 year at Campbell University a NCAA Division 1 institution in NC.

Bricker is a native of Live Oak, FL, and graduated from Campbell University in 2004 with a degree in Physical Education. During his four-year career at Campbell, he compiled 86 wins to rank eighth on the school’s all-time victories list. Bricker was also a Three-Time CAA All-Conference, finishing second in the conference in the 125-pound weight class as a freshman, and was twice named the team’s MVP (2001 & 2003).

Bricker completed his career at Suwannee High School with a career record of 122-3 and was a two-time state champion. He holds the schools record for career tournament titles with 17 and was named Most Outstanding Wrestler in the 1999 High School National Open.

John Dickerson

Graduate Assistant Wrestling Coach

John Dickerson is new to the Campbellsville coaching staff this year. John comes to Campbellsville after a very good college wrestling career at the Citadel in Charleston, SC.

While at the Citadel John was a 4x Southern Conference Placer, taking 3rd three times and finishing 2nd in his Sr. year. In High School, John was a state champion at Eaton Rapids High in Michigan and placed 3rd at the folk style World Championships

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We have been searching for an upper weight coach and feel like it has been a missing piece to our program. With his Division I wrestling experience at the Citadel, Coach Dickerson will be a big asset to our coaching staff.

Billy James

Assistant Wrestling Coach

Billy begins his first season as a member of the Tiger coaching staff after his career as a varsity member of the Tiger wrestling program.

James will work with the new Tiger team members at practice and assist with individual workouts.

Hewas a member of the first Tiger Team in 2004 and was the first wrestler to commit to CU. He made sure that the program got off to a good start and completed two good years for the Tigers by becoming a 2X National Qualifier and the East Region Runner up in 2005.

James will graduate from Campbellsville with a degree in Criminal Justice and pursue a career with the state police or a teaching and coaching career. Billy is a graduate of Choctaw High School in Choctaw, OK where he was a 2x state placer.