GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Colorado Mesa wrestling coach Chuck Pipher has announced his retirement from coaching on Monday (Oct. 17) afternoon. Pipher has spent the past 16 seasons as the head coach of the Mavericks after bringing the program back prior to the 2006-07 season.
 
"After 33 years of coaching, I am looking forward to spending more time with my family especially my wife Deana that has put her heart and soul into our business the past 10 years," Chuck Pipher said. "Also, I will get a chance to spend more time with my four kids and the 12 grandkids."
 
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference wrestler of the century finishes his career with a 129-112-1 dual record including a 64-59-1 mark in conference duals in his 16 seasons at the helm. His team was the outright RMAC Champion following the 2014-15 season, the 2020-21 COVID season, and the 2021-22 season while earning a share during the 2015-16 season. He totaled a career-high 20 dual meet wins during the 2012-13 season followed by a 14-1 mark during the 2014-15 season.
 
Not only was Pipher successful at the conference level but the national level as well. The Mavericks have had an all-American in 12 straight seasons at the NCAA National Championships, the longest running streak of any school currently in the RMAC. The past two seasons, the Mavericks have placed eighth at the National Championships as a team, the highest national placing during his 16 seasons.
 
A couple of the biggest highlights came during the 2015 and 2021 National Championships. Pipher coached Rifle High School product James Martinez to the NCAA National Championship at 157 pounds becoming the first NCAA individual national champion in Colorado Mesa history. In 2021, he helped Fred Green to a NCAA National Championship at 165 pounds during the COVID year. Both NCAA Championships occurred in St. Louis, Mo.
 
"I wish to thank the past administration, former Colorado Mesa president Tim Foster and Jamie Hamilton for believing in me 16 years ago. Thanks to my former Athletic Directors Tom Spicer, Bryan Rooks, Kris Peterson, and Sports Information Director Dave Jahnke for their 16 years of support."
 
Pipher plans to continue his woodworking business for the next five years prior to completely retiring. He also plans to attend several Maverick wrestling events and continue helping plan the annual Steak & Crab Fest.
 
"Colorado Mesa wrestling is in a great place with both the men's and women's programs with Coach Mendoza and Coach Mercado on staff."
 
An official announcement about the coaching staff is expected in the forthcoming days.
 
See what others are saying about Pipher's retirement:
 
"It has been a great experience coaching with Chuck the last three or four years. I have learned a lot from him and have enjoyed our friendship."
– Mike Mendoza, Assistant Wrestling Coach, Colorado Mesa
 
"I would not have anyone else be by my side when I started the women's program at Colorado Mesa as he was the one that reinstated men's wrestling program 16 years ago. Coach Pipher has been an instrumental mentor and peer for me the past four years. I am sad that he is retiring but am grateful for our time together as coaches, the friendship we created, and the memories we have together."
– Travis Mercado, Head Women's Wrestling Coach, Colorado Mesa
 
"Chuck was one of the first people I met in Colorado. He mentored me as a student, a wrestler and as a coach. Chuck provided many years of service to the sport of wrestling and will be missed. Good luck Chuck and have fun in retirement."
– Dax Charles, Head Wrestling Coach, CSU Pueblo
 
"What Chuck has done at Colorado Mesa with the wrestling program is truly remarkable. He built the program from the ground up and the program has never been in a better place. I want to thank Chuck for his contributions to the sport of wrestling and that it hasn't gone unnoticed. Congratulations on retirement and I wish you the best moving forward."
– Brett Hunter, Head Wrestling Coach, Chadron State
 
"It's been a pleasure knowing Chuck for many years. Way back as a high school athlete, I remember watching him and looking up to him as a competitor at a rival school. It was an honor to get to coach against him when he was named the coach at Mesa when they started the program back up. He was the right guy to get the program up and running. Aside from being a quality coach, he has been a great ambassador for wrestling in the conference, state and Division II. Good Luck!"
– Jason Ramstetter, Head Wrestling Coach, Adams State
 
"Coach Chuck Pipher established the Mesa Wrestling program as one of the fiercest competitors in the RMAC and NCAA each season.  I wish him all the best in his retirement and future success." 
– Austin DeVoe, Head Wrestling Coach, Colorado School of Mines
 
"I had a unique experience with Coach Pipher. I was fortune enough to be recruited by him out of high school, that's when I started to learn the type of man and coach he was. He was always engaged in you as a person, cared about your future goals and aspirations, as well as wanted you to be successful no matter what route you chose. I then competed against his teams during my time at Western and we had some great battles, but the respect always grew as you watched him coach his athletes to high levels of success. At the end of Coach Pipher's career, I have been blessed to become a peer and compete again against him. As a peer he has always been there when you needed advice or had a question. Although I never competed for or coached with Coach Pipher, he has taught me how to treat my athletes, how to love the sport of wrestling and I believe I have grown because of him and my time around him. I appreciate everything he has done for wrestling, myself and the numerous athletes he has helped become great people."
– Cody Cole, Head Wrestling Coach, New Mexico Highlands