NIC removes interim title from wrestling coach Booth

From news services

COEUR d'ALENE — Derrick Booth, North Idaho College's interim wrestling coach this past season, has had the interim tag removed and was named head wrestling coach Friday, NIC athletic director Shawn Noel announced.

“I couldn’t be more excited to have Derrick Booth stay with us on a permanent basis,” Noel said in a school news release. “He is a fierce competitor, respected by his student-athletes and has great ties into the community. He understands what is expected of the North Idaho College wrestling program and has the ability to build on the past successes, while making it his own.”

Booth, a Post Falls native, wrestled for the Cardinals from 2012 to 2014. While at NIC, he was a part of the 2013 NJCAA national championship team and was an All-American in 2014. He continued his athletic career at Coker University in South Carolina where he wrestled for two seasons and completed his bachelor’s degree in physical education and exercise science.

Booth returned to the Northwest after spending two seasons on the coaching staff at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa. At Ellsworth, he coached three All-Americans and helped the team improve from 25th in the nation in 2020 to 10th in the nation in 2021. While coaching, Booth also finished his master’s degree in sport and athletic administration from Gonzaga University.

This past season, Booth led NIC to a fifth-place finish at nationals, and NIC defeated four-time defending national champions Clackamas Community College twice in duals.

"It is an honor and a privilege to be named the head coach of the North Idaho College wrestling program,” Booth said. “I am excited to continue and build on the tradition of excellence here at North Idaho. I’d like to thank Shawn Noel and all of North Idaho College for this opportunity."