Cumberland head wrestling coach James Hicks has earned the 2023-24 Mid-South Conference Male Coach for Significance distinction, as announced by conference officials.
This prestigious award, presented annually at the conclusion of the academic year, honors a Mid-South Conference coach who has proven to be an exceptional role model and team unifier. The recipient of this award embodies selfless leadership and, through their actions and coaching abilities, has led their team to remarkable achievements.
Coach Hicks, who has spearheaded Cumberland’s wrestling program for eight seasons, is the second coach in CU history to be honored with the award, following in the footsteps of Hall of Fame baseball coach Woody Hunt. When reflecting on what it means to be recognized in such a profound manner, Hicks stated, “It’s a great honor! The Mid South Conference has so many great leaders to choose from and I am extremely grateful for the recognition. I feel fortunate to be in a position to receive such an award doing what I love and I look forward to continuing to serve Cumberland and the middle Tennessee community.”
Under the leadership of Coach Hicks, the wrestling program has found incredible success, becoming one of Cumberland’s most decorated sports programs. The Phoenix have finished inside the NAIA Top-10 for four consecutive years and secured three Mid-South Conference titles under Hicks’ guidance. He has coached one NAIA National Champion and an impressive count of 21 NAIA All-Americans.
This past season, Cumberland won both the Mid-South Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships, with four individual conference champions – Sammy Shires, Jack Latimer, Cole Smith, and Rocco Horvath. The Phoenix finished eighth at the NAIA National Championships, with three wrestlers earning All-American honors. Latimer finished as the National Runner-Up and Mid-South Conference Wrestler of the Year, while Smith placed fourth and Shires took eighth.
Reflecting on his four years under Hicks’ coaching, former NAIA National Champion and four-time NAIA All-American Cole Smith praised his adaptability. “One thing Coach Hicks was always good at when it came to coaching was adapting to change,” Smith shared. “Whether it be with new rule changes with COVID or new techniques, he was always ahead of the curve.”
Hicks is no stranger to conference recognition, having been named the Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year three times in his career, including this past 2024 season. With this latest achievement, Hicks is now in the running for the NAIA Coach of Character Award, which will be announced on September 15.