NIC hires Sebaaly as wrestling coach

COEUR d’ALENE — Michael Sebaaly has been hired as North Idaho College’s new head wrestling coach, NIC Athletics Director Al Williams announced Monday.

“The search committee is very pleased with this outstanding candidate,” Williams said. “Coach Sebaaly has an exceptional record as a head wrestling coach and is known as a hard-working recruiter. We are looking forward to welcoming Michael and his family to Coeur d’Alene.”

Sebaaly most recently coached for five seasons at Northwest Kansas Technical College. Each of these five years, NWKTC improved on its national finish at the NJCAA Tournament, earning the team a fourth spot in 2019, with two national champions and six All-Americans. NWKTC had an impressive regular season, finishing No. 3 in the final NJCAA national polls, and winning the NWCA National Duals Championship.

“I recognize the expectations are high for the wrestling team at North Idaho College. I take those expectations, which are steeped in the great traditions of this program, seriously,” Sebaaly said. “I am honored to be a part of this team and look forward to continuing the program’s success, including the popular Tri-State Wrestling Tournament in December and summer wrestling camps.”

Sebaaly inherits a program led for 22 seasons by Pat Whitcomb, who was fired by NIC officials for undisclosed reasons in January. In a written response after his firing, Whitcomb denied any knowledge of NIC’s academic integrity violations prior to an investigation in the fall of 2018. “I refused to resign, as I had done nothing wrong,” Whitcomb wrote.

Whitcomb led the Cardinals to four national titles as wrestling coach, was honored as National Coach of the Year twice and was Region 18 Coach of the Year eight times. As an athlete, Whitcomb won national wrestling titles for NIC in 1986 and 1987.

Prior his tenure at Northwest Tech, Sebaaly spent two seasons at Alfred State (2012-2014) as the assistant wrestling coach, where he helped develop three All-Americans. As a Division 1 wrestler, Sebaaly graduated from the Division 1 University at Buffalo with a bachelor’s degree in history. Following graduation, Sebaaly attended Buffalo State College where he received a masters’ degree in history. He recently completed his doctorate in Educational Leadership from Southwestern University.

Sebaaly and his wife, Megan, have four daughters. He is scheduled to begin work in mid-June.