NC State wrestling adds Malik McDonald as assistant coach

NC State wrestling added former Wolfpack wrestler Malik McDonald to the coaching staff as an assistant, according to a release. McDonald was with the program from 2014-19.

A former two-time NCAA qualifier, McDonald adds a familiar vibe to NC State. He wrestled at 197 pounds at the NCAA Tournament in both of those seasons.

McDonald also wrestled at the U23 World Team Trials in 2018, garnering an All-American finish at 4th place at 97 KG. A former ACC champion, McDonald should bode well for the room this coming season.

As far as his coaching experience is concerned, McDonald worked as a volunteer coach for Clarion in 2019-20. He also was the head assistant coach at Long Island University in 2020-21.

Over the last four seasons, he was an assistant coach at Kent State, where he also earned a Masters Degree of Arts in Sports and Fitness Administration/Management. Now, McDonald is coming home.

At NC State, McDonald amassed 83 wins and two 20-win seasons with the Wolfpack. He wrestled at South View High School in Hope Mills and finished in the top three of the state tournament twice and was a state champion as a senior.

NC State had another banner year on the mat and it culminated at the 2025 NCAA Championships. 125 pounder Vince Robinson won the national title in March.

“I put in so much work,” Robinson said after advancing to the championship bout Friday evening. “I told ’em at the beginning of the year, like, once I get this shot, bro, I’m just going to take it. That’s what I did the whole year. Now we’re here, living my dream.”

He beat Oklahoma State’s Troy Spratley 2-1 in tiebreakers. Robinson, who beat Spratley in the dual in Stillwater, Okla., on Jan. 13, took a 1-0 lead in the early stages of the second period after he logged an escape. The match was tied at one all through the first three periods, forcing overtime and eventually sudden victory.

Robinson scored one point in the first sudden victory period to retake the lead, which was enough to secure the title. While Robinson called advancing to the title bout a dream come true, what did it feel like right after he won the championship?

“A dream,” Robinson said. “Literally a dream. Doesn’t even feel real right now. Like I said, it’s all God planned. He put me in this position. He just gave me all the strength and the power just to show my skills to the world. I got that done tonight.”