Mike Letts Joins Navy Wrestling Staff

June 15, 2011

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Three-time NCAA qualifier and 2011 All-American Mike Letts has joined the Naval Academy wrestling staff it was announced on Wednesday by 12th-year Navy wrestling coach Bruce Burnett.”I am excited to have Mike join our wrestling staff and become part of the Naval Academy family,” said Burnett, the former U.S. Olympic Freestyle Team head coach who has amassed a 101-50 record at the helm of the Midshipmen program. “His accomplishments in the sport of wrestling along, with his character, integrity and youthful maturity make him a perfect fit for the program. There is no doubt that his contribution will make a positive impact on our athletes right away.”

“I’m very excited to have this opportunity to begin my coaching career at such an upstanding and respectable program as the United States Naval academy,” said Letts. “I only hope to help build upon its winning tradition and maintain what is an already impeccable reputation.”

A 2011 graduate of the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, Letts spent five years in College Park wrestling for former Terrapins coach Pat Santoro, now at Lehigh, and the last three years under the guidance of Kerry McCoy. Letts was a three-time ACC Champion, winning the 174-pound title as a freshman (2006-07), sophomore (2007-08) and senior (2010-11) and in each of those seasons punched his ticket to compete on the ultimate stage, the NCAA Championship.

Letts began his career by producing a 31-7 record as a rookie, including an 18-3 dual mark, and becoming the Terps’ first true freshman to advance to the NCAA Tournament since 1990. A year later he claimed his second ACC title via an undefeated mark in conference action and qualified for his second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance behind a 23-6 record. He also garnered ACC Scholar-Athlete recognition in his sophomore season.

As a junior in 2008-09, Letts stepped away from team competition and spent the season dominating the open tournament circuit where he put together a 26-3 record. He opened the year winning his first 16 matches and won titles at Eastern Michigan, NC State, East Stroudsburg and Penn State.

He returned to the Maryland lineup in 2009-10, but an injury suffered in January would end his season prematurely. Ranked as high ast No. 4 during the season, he closed out the year with a 19-4 record.

Letts came back strong and enjoyed his most successful season as a senior. Voted by his peers to serve as Maryland’s team captain, he put together his second 30-win season, boasting a 32-8 record which featured a 15-2 mark in dual action. He began he final season by capturing wins in 15 of his first 16 matches. Letts earned a 4-2 victory over fourth-ranked Chris Henrich of Virginia to win his third ACC title and was named the 2010-11 ACC Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler. He went on post a 4-2 record and seventh-place finish at the NCAA Championship, which featured a 9-2 victory over eighth-ranked Nick Heflin of Ohio State to clinch All-America honors.

Letts closed out his collegiate career with a 131-28 record, including a 59-11 dual mark.

### Go Navy ###