Hiram College has promoted Ryan Kirst to head women's wrestling coach, the athletics department announced. Kirst becomes the third head coach in program history, joining Andy Vogel (2021-22) and Christy Powell (2022-26).

Kirst spent the past season as an assistant with Hiram's men's wrestling program under head coach Dustin Porter, helping the Terriers to a fourth-place finish at the PAC Championships. He worked closely with freshman Taveon Moss, who set the program's single-season record with 17 pins, won the PAC title at 125 pounds and earned PAC Newcomer of the Year. Will Brodbeck and Dino Longo also earned All-PAC honors under Kirst's guidance.

Kirst brings an extensive coaching background to the women's program, with previous stints at CWRU, Ashland University, Heidelberg University, Lake Erie College, Cleveland State's club program, Bay High School, Lakewood St. Edward High School and Ashland Crestview High School spanning nearly two decades.

As a competitor at Division II Ashland, Kirst was a four-time NCAA Division II national qualifier, a Division II All-American at 197 pounds and one of the winningest wrestlers in program history with 116 career victories.

Hiram women's wrestling has produced seven national qualifiers in five seasons of competition, including three in each of the past two seasons. The program won the inaugural AMCC Invitational in 2024-25 and will compete in the Presidents' Athletic Conference for the first time in 2026-27.