Joe Norton returns to North Central College as the head wrestling coach after taking the same position at Knox College.
Joe was a four year starter for the Cardinals wrestling team from 2006-2010. He was a team captain on a fourth ranked team in NCAA Division III while also being a three-time individual champion of the North Central Invitational. Joe was ranked as high as ninth nationally at 125 pounds and placed in the Regional tournament four times, including a third place finish in 2009. As a senior, Norton was the recipient of North Central’s Senior Influence Award for leadership across all sports as well as the Merle Chapman award from the CCIW.
After completing his career as a competitor, Joe joined the team as a graduate assistant coach and served as the primary lightweight coach. The team achieved a 9th place finish at the 2012 NCAA Championships as Nathan Fitzenreider earned a runner-up finish at 125 pounds and Andrew Zobac finished 5th at 141 pounds.
Joe also captained three IHSA State Championship teams at Montini Catholic High School. Individually, he served as a team captain and was an All-State finisher and first-team AAU All-American in 2006.
Joe received his bachelor’s degree in Print Journalism in 2010 from North Central College. He continued his studies here while earning a master’s in Sports Leadership in 2013.
