If actions speak, then Jason Moorman’s college coaching career is worth examining.
Moorman landed at Tarleton State after his surprise departure from King University on October 18, 2024. It should surprise no one that an influx of talent followed him to Stephenville, Texas.
Aine Drury was the biggest get. She finished second and fifth at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships after winning a California Community College title. She also reached Final X and won the 2025 U.S. Open.
Tarleton State competes in the NCWA division, which is sort of like a club division, despite spirited debate about its place among women’s college wrestling. It’s the only women’s college division with a national folkstyle championship.
So, when Dury won the 2026 NCWA at 145 pounds, it was folkstyle — not freestyle.
Again, no surprise that Tarleton State won back-to-back NCWA team titles.
“(Jason) is the best collegiate women’s wrestling coach in the country. And it’s not close." - North Central coach Joe Norton
There are others, like California’s Piper Pike. She watched Moorman coach at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships as a high schooler and decided she’d follow him to whichever college he was the head coach at.
“When we watch the NCAA finals, I noticed his girls were in quite a few of them,” Pike said. “He’s a really good coach. I like everything about his style and his honesty, and I definitely gelled with that.”
Tarleton State was expected to add a Division I women’s wrestling program, but it hasn’t happened yet. And there’s no timeline on whether it will.
That leaves Moorman in wrestling purgatory. He wants to coach, and he wants to win, but we can’t expect him to stick around forever if the Texans don’t have a sanctioned program. The NCWA is a good option for some, but it isn’t the NCAA or the NAIA.
That’s where Moorman needs to be. That’s where women’s wrestling needs him to be. He’s too valuable on the sidelines.
"Jason took me in and taught me how to utilize my talent and not let it go to waste." - 2016 Olympian Haley Augello
His track record speaks for itself. Moorman started the King University women’s wrestling program from scratch in 2009 and turned it into a dynasty. The Tornado won four WCWA titles from 2014-17, along with 14 consecutive top six finishes (2011-24).
The program is a who’s who of women’s wrestling, from 2024 Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hildebrandt to current Iowa State coach Alli Ragan.
“Coach (Moorman) changed my life,” said Haley Augello, a 2016 Olympian and three-time WCWA champion. “He took me in and taught me how to utilize my talent and not let it go to waste. He teaches his athletes to have high standards in life and that anything is possible through hard work. He’s a leader by example, and he’s impacted so many young athletes. He’s a great man. Wrestling is lucky to have him.”
Yes, wrestling is lucky to have him. That’s why we can’t let Moorman’s talent go to waste, regardless of what happens at Tarleton State. And his coaching peers agree.
“It’s not hyperbole to say Jason is a legend." - Life University coach Ashley Flavin said.
Letting Moorman get away is a mistake for a sport that’s growing fast.
“He’s the best collegiate women’s wrestling coach in the country. And it’s not close,” North Central coach Joe Norton said. “I have so much respect for him and the way he runs his program.
“The number of incredible wrestlers he has developed into college national champions, All-Americans, and World and Olympic team members and medalists is staggering. I think the most impressive part, though, is that his athletes carry such a deep, enduring love and respect for him even long after they’ve graduated.”
Life University coach Ashley Flavin reflected Norton’s sentiments. Although she and Moorman compete in different divisions, the respect is the same.
“It’s not hyperbole to say Jason is a legend,” Flavin said. “Jason didn’t just set the standard for women’s wrestling in college; he created it. He was the first person to reach out to say congratulations when Life won National Duals the first time. That speaks so highly to who he is as a person. Our sport would not be where it is without him.”
Ideally, Moorman will lead a Division I women’s wrestling team in Texas, where the talent is deep. If not, let’s collectively do everything we can to ensure he’s in a position of influence.
Shame on us if we let him get away.