Men's Wrestling Contact: Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu

Women's Wrestling Contact: Taiah (Gallisath) Poklop, Associate Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5302

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Sept. 30) – Head Men's Wrestling Coach Grant Zamin and Head Women's Wrestling Coach Joe Norton announced the promotion of former North Central College student-athlete and Graduate Assistant Robby Bates to full-time Assistant Coach of both the men's and women's wrestling programs Wednesday.

Bates, a native of Morris, Illinois, won three College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CIW) titles at 285 pounds in his career with the Cardinals. He was seventh in career wins with 132 while earning Scholar-All-American honors in his senior campaign.

Bates qualified for nationals three times in his five-year career, earning All-American honors in all three trips, finishing fourth in 2024 at 285 pounds.

"It means so much to be able to give back to the program that helped me grow into the wrestler and man I am today," Bates said. "North Central holds a special place in my life, and being able to come back in this role makes me so ecstatic."

"I'm fired up to have Coach Bates join our staff as an assistant coach," Zamin said. "Robert hustles in everything he does, builds meaningful relationships with the people in our programs, and loves to compete." 

Norton echoes Zamin's sentiment.

"We are extremely fortunate to be able to add someone like Robby Bates to our full-time coaching staff," Norton said. "Our wrestling teams are in good hands and will continue to contend for national titles on both the men's and women's side at the NCAA Championships for years to come."

Bates went above and beyond in his brief stint as the men's wrestling graduate assistant, helping him to land his new role.

"As a graduate assistant, he volunteered every day to do even more than he was asked," Norton said. "He's taken ownership of the weight room and worked with our graduate assistants to establish a strength program for both teams that meets their needs, makes them stronger and keeps them healthy.

"He takes initiative and gets things done efficiently and properly so that both teams have everything they need to succeed each day."

Zamin believes Bates' competitive edge will be a benefit for his student-athletes.

"He wants to win, and he shows that through his actions every day," Zamin said. "We saw it throughout his five years as a wrestler at North Central and again during his year as a graduate assistant. Our team is excited to keep learning from him and to have him as a coach and mentor."

Norton hopes to see Bates' experience at the upper-weight classes pay dividends within the program.

"[Bates] is incredibly valuable to our upper-weight wrestlers on both teams," Norton said. "For the top three weight classes on each team to have a guy who was a 3x All-American and wants to be on the mat with them every day is invaluable for them.

"They have their own go-to coach to help them develop skills and prepare them to win the biggest matches they will wrestle," Norton continued. "He is a relationship coach, and the guys and girls know they can trust him – which is pivotal to their success."

Bates' new title is the culmination of his journey with the Cardinal wrestling program.

"Working with coach Norton is a full-circle moment for me," Bates said. "He originally recruited me, then coached me, and now I have been able to learn from him as a coach."

Bates watched coach Zamin's ascension from graduate assistant to head coach, and is prepared to learn even more under both coach Zamin and coach Norton in his new role.

"They are some of the best coaches I've ever worked with, not just technically but mentally," Bates said. "The standards they've set and the message they deliver to our programs help build student-athletes on and off the mat."

He hopes to continue to help build that culture in the coming years.

"My focus is always going to be on athlete development, not just through wrestling but lessons they will learn that will carry them through life," Bates said. "My focus is always going to be on athlete development, not just through wrestling but lessons they will learn that will carry them through life."