Coach Jake Laden enters his third season with the Life University men’s wrestling program in 2026-27 after joining the Running Eagles staff ahead of the 2024-25 season. During Laden’s first two seasons at Life, the Running Eagles continued their tradition as one of the nation’s premier collegiate wrestling programs. On the NAIA side, Life captured back-to-back conference championships, earned back-to-back NAIA National Runner-Up finishes and back-to-back runner-up finishes at the NWCA National Duals.
During that span, the Running Eagles produced 21 NAIA All-Americans and three individual NAIA National Champions. Life’s NCWA program also captured back-to-back NCWA Division II National Championships during Laden’s first two seasons, along with the 2025 NCWA National Duals Championship and the 2026 NCWA SEC Conference Championship. Laden served as Head Coach of the NCWA program during the 2025-26 season and was named the 2026 NCWA SEC Conference Coach of the Year.
2025-26
In his second season at Life, Laden helped guide the NAIA Running Eagles to a 12-1 dual record and a second consecutive conference championship. Life finished runner-up at the NWCA National Duals before earning its second consecutive NAIA National Runner-Up finish. The Running Eagles scored 166 team points at the NAIA National Championships and produced 11 All-Americans, including 157-pound NAIA National Champion Douglas Terry. In addition to his responsibilities as Associate Head Coach of the NAIA program, Laden served as Head Coach of Life University’s NCWA team during the 2025-26 season. Under Laden’s leadership, the NCWA Running Eagles captured the SEC Conference Championship, qualified all 19 wrestlers for the NCWA National Championships and won the NCWA Division II National Championship. Life produced 13 NCWA All-Americans, including 157-pound individual National Champion Jaden New. For his leadership of the program, Laden was named the 2026 NCWA SEC Conference Coach of the Year.
2024-25
In Laden’s first season at Life, the Running Eagles captured the NAIA conference championship before finishing as the NAIA National Runner-Up and NWCA National Duals Runner-Up. Life produced 10 NAIA All-Americans and crowned two individual National Champions, Thaddeus Long and Jesse “JD” Perez. Perez capped an undefeated 29-0 season by winning the 184-pound NAIA National Championship and earning NAIA National Wrestler of the Year honors. He continued his success during the offseason at the 2025 U23 World Team Trials, finishing runner-up in Greco-Roman and fifth in freestyle to earn All-American honors in both styles. Life also found success in the NCWA ranks, capturing the 2025 NCWA National Duals Championship and the NCWA Division II National Championship while producing eight NCWA All-Americans.
PRIOR TO LIFE UNIVERSITY
Before joining Life University, Laden spent four seasons as Associate Head Coach at Ottawa University.
During his tenure with the Braves, Ottawa captured five consecutive KCAC team championships, produced 37 NAIA national qualifiers and earned five NAIA All-American Honors. Laden began his collegiate coaching career at Grand View University, where he spent three seasons as a graduate assistant. During his time on staff, Grand View captured three NAIA National Championships while producing 33 All-Americans and seven individual National Champions.
COMPETITIVE CAREER
Laden was an NJCAA and NAIA All-American during his collegiate wrestling career. He began his collegiate career at Clackamas Community College in Oregon, one of the nation’s premier NJCAA wrestling programs. Laden earned NJCAA All-American honors with a fourth-place finish at the 2012 NJCAA National Championships. Laden later continued his career at Grand View University. He placed fourth in Greco-Roman at the 2016 University Nationals before earning NAIA All-American honors in 2017 with a third-place finish at the NAIA National Championships. During his time at Grand View, Laden was part of three NAIA National Championship teams and three National Duals championship teams.
Originally from Butte, Montana, Laden later moved to Washington, where he attended University High School in Spokane Valley. He was a high school All-American, placed third at the Washington State Championships as a junior and captured an individual state championship as a senior. Laden also helped University High School capture the 2010 Washington state team championship.
EDUCATION AND PERSONAL
Laden earned his bachelor’s degree in human services from Grand View University in 2017 and his master’s degree in Organizational Leadership in 2019. He is also a 2019 graduate of the FCA Coaches Academy.
In 2022, Laden was inducted into the Iowa National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Dan Gable Museum as a member of Grand View’s 2017 NAIA National Championship team. At Life University, Laden is involved in all aspects of the men’s wrestling program, including recruiting, athlete development, academic support, camps and program operations. Laden and his wife, Michelle, have three children, Miriella, Louie and Lenny Mac, along with their French Bulldog, Juicy.
AWARDS & Camp; COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Life University | NAIA
• 2x NAIA Conference Champions
• 2x NAIA National Runner-Up
• 2x NWCA National Duals Runner-Up
• 21 NAIA All-Americans
• 3 Individual NAIA National Champions
Life University | NCWA
• Head Coach, 2025-26
• 2x NCWA Division II National Champions
• 2025 NCWA National Duals Champions
• 2026 NCWA SEC Conference Champions
• 21 NCWA All-Americans
• 1 Individual NCWA National Champion
• 2026 NCWA SEC Conference Coach of the Year
COACHING EXPERIENCE
• Life University | Associate Head Coach | 2024-Present
• Life University NCWA | Head Coach | 2025-26
• Ottawa University | Associate Head Coach | 2020-24
• Grand View University | Graduate Assistant | 2017-20
EDUCATION
• Grand View University | B.A., Human Services | 2017
• Grand View University | M.A., Organizational Leadership | 2019
• FCA Coaches Academy | 2019 Graduate
WRESTLING EXPERIENCE
Clackamas Community College
• NJCAA All-American
• 4th, 2012 NJCAA National Championships
Grand View University
• NAIA All-American
• 3rd, 2017 NAIA National Championships
• 4th, 2016 University Greco-Roman Nationals
• 3x NAIA Team National Champion
• 3x National Duals Team Champion
University High School | Spokane Valley, Washington
• Washington State Champion
• High School All-American
• 3rd at Washington State Championships as a junior
• Member of 2010 Washington State Championship team
PERSONAL
Hometown: Butte, Montana / Spokane Valley, Washington
Family: Wife, Michelle; children Miriella, Louie and Lenny Mac; French Bulldog, Juicy.
