PELLA -- The Central College women's wrestling team has its new head coach as assistant coach Jaime Miranda will take over the reins of the young program.

Dr. Miranda, a 2017 Central graduate who recently finished his doctorate in educational leadership from Drake University, spent the 2024-25 season as an assistant coach with the Central women's team while also working with the school's Upward Bound program. Miranda also earned his master's degree in leadership from Trident University International in 2021.

"I'm just excited and beyond blessed for the opportunity," Miranda said. "I feel our administrators believe in me and more importantly, in our women and this program. I plan to match that belief with my effort."

Miranda was the head girls coach at MOC-Floyd Valley High School for two seasons from 2022-24 and was the assistant boys coach prior to that in 2021-22. His girls team finished second at the Siouxland Conference tournament in 2024.

"Jaime had a life-changing experience at Central College," Vice President for Athletics Eric Van Kley said. "He's going to make an even bigger impact on our department with this new role. I'm thrilled to see where he takes this program."

He will wrap up his tenure with the Upward Bound program this summer and turn his full attention to wrestling in August.

"We're building a culture our incoming class and recruits can truly see and feel," Miranda said. "Fight will drive us. Faith will define us. Family will bind us.

"We're creating a family-first environment. My personal goal is for our athletes to be the first ones with their toes on the line every match. We want everyone watching to see a team give everything it has every second of every match. And above all, we want our team to have faith, faith in their coaches and training, faith their teammates will rise to the moment, and faith in themselves."

As a collegiate wrestler for the Dutch, Miranda earned four varsity letters at 285 pounds and had a career record of 63-42. He had seven top three tournament finishes in his career.

While serving in the United States Marines Corp in 2019, Miranda earned a spot in the World Team Trials Challenge in the 87-kilogram class of Greco-Roman wrestling.