When Mark Matzek was about to finish his freshman year at Augsburg in the spring of 2002, he traveled back to Ellsworth, his hometown, to tell his father that he found his calling – he wanted to be a teacher and wrestling coach.

His dad was less than enthused, and even told Matzek he was crazy for going into the education profession. Little did he know that education and coaching would lead his son to multiple national titles as a wrestler, one as head coach and led directly to his enshrinement in the NWCA Division III Hall of Fame 21 years later.

Matzek is to be officially inducted into the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Friday, July 28. Matzek is one of just seven men from around the country that will have their legacy cemented later this summer.

Matzek will be enshrined largely because of his spotless resume as a wrestler and coach at Augsburg University. He wrestled there between 2002 and 2005 and was a three-time All-American who won back-to-back individual national championships in 2004 and 2005.

After his competitive career, Matzek took over as Augsburg’s head coach before the 2008-09 season. During his six years as headman, Matzek led the Auggies to six consecutive NCAA Division 3 regional titles, three national runner-up finishes and a national championship in 2009-10.

As Matzek raised the hardware, then just 27 years of age, he became the youngest head coach in Division III history to win a national championship.

“When I stop and reflect, it’s very humbling,” Matzek said of the honor. “I owe so many people thanks and gratitude, but I’ll never be able to get to them all. There are so many people I’m grateful for. Looking back, I owe a lot of this to the Ellsworth community.”

Matzek’s wrestling career began at Ellsworth High School in the late 1990s. During his four years with the program, Matzek competed for – and learned from – legendary head coach Jack Radabaugh, who won five state championships with the Panthers between 1976 and 2012.

As a four-year varsity wrestler, Matzek won a team state championship with Ellsworth in 2000, finished runner-up in 1999 and 2001, and captured back-to-back individual titles in 1999 and 2000.

After graduation, Matzek began the next chapter of his academic and athletic career as a wrestler at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. While there, he competed for long-time head coach Jeff Swenson, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest wrestling coaches in Division III history.

Swenson, who took the reins as head coach before the 1980-81 season, won 10 national championships in 17 years. By the time he began coaching Matzek in 2002, Swenson was already one of the most legendary coaches in the country.

“Going from Jack Radabaugh to Jeff Swenson, I didn’t take any steps backward,” Matzek said. “(Augsburg) was kind of like Radabaugh’s program at Ellsworth. Just do what they say, have faith and do the work. I’m not afraid to do the work. I was never afraid of that. I had those great leaders and that was the magical recipe.”

Matzek competed in the 133-pound weight class for Augsburg between 2002 and 2005. During that span, he compiled a 129-21 overall record, which included a 35-4 junior season and a flawless 35-0 senior campaign. He won individual national titles in each of his last two years and is one of just 13 wrestlers in Augsburg history to win multiple individual championships.

“I feel like I was a big product of my environment,” Matzek said. “We have different seasons in our lives, but the time I spent there brings back so many good memories and great experiences with past teammates.”

In addition to his national championship and three runner-up finishes as a head coach, Matzek also oversaw individual success. During his six seasons, Matzek oversaw 30 All-Americans and five individual national champions. He spoke about the pressure of running such an elite program.

“It was daunting,” Matzek said. “I was only 26 or 27 when I first started and I hadn’t been the head coach of anything yet. I wouldn’t change anything because that was such a great opportunity and it helped build me into the man I am today.”

After Matzek led Augsburg’s program for six years, he decided it was time to begin a new chapter of his life. When the 2013-14 season ended, Matzek stepped down as the head coach of the program and decided to raise his family in the place where it all started for him – Ellsworth.

Matzek moved back to his hometown, took a job as a math teacher, and quickly got involved with the varsity wrestling program. Under his direction, the Panthers have won two state championships, finished runner-up three times and have claimed six Middle Border Conference titles.

Although he will always be an Ellsworth Panther, Matzek will go into the NWCA Division III Hall of Fame as an Auggie. He will be the 11th Augsburg wrestler or coach to be inducted. He spoke about the honor of going in representing his alma mater.

“To be in there with my other Augsburg alumni, including three of my past coaches with Jeff Swenson, Scott Whirley and Donny Wichmann, it’s really humbling,” Matzek said. “To be in the Hall of Fame with those guys is humbling. Just talking about it chokes me up.”