Head Coach Michael Eaton
Eatonm@friscoisd.org
Coach Mike Eaton is currently in his 12th year of coaching in Texas including his time as head coach of South Grand Prairie from 1997-2002 and Centennial High School in Frisco from 2003 to the present. Despite starting both of these programs anew, he has been able to guide his teams to over 200 dual wins over this span. Eaton's teams have earned 13 district titles, 2 regional titles, and one state runner-up placement. Three of his teams have participated in the THSWCA Dual State championships with one 3rd place finish and one 5th place finish. He has coached 85 individual district champions, 72 regional champions/placers, 17 state placers, and 4 state champions over the past 12 years. Included in this group, he has had five wrestlers earn ALL-AMERICAN status and three wrestlers elected to the Asics All-American Team.
Coach Eaton also runs a freestyle club, Team Titan, as well as a youth club, The Frisco Bombers. His freestyle club has produced 67 individual state medalists (top 3 finish), 21 state champions, 12 All-Americans, and one NATIONAL CHAMPION over the past five years. In addition, Coach Eaton has one wrestler who qualified for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in womens freestyle. He was recently elected to serve as the President of the Texas High School Wrestling Coaches Association and he also serves as the state representative for the National Wrestling Coaches Association.
Coach Eaton wrestled his prep career in Colorado Springs, CO followed by his collegiate career wrestling for Boston College. At the conclusion of his college career he spent one season coaching at his alma mater in Colorado before moving to Texas. He is married and has two young girls, ages 8 and 3 and a new baby on the way!
Asst. Coach Darren Snyder
Coach Darren Snyder was born and raised in northeast Iowa, and started wrestling when he was 7 years old. He continued through high school culminating with a fifth place finish in the State tournament his junior year. He graduated in 1992 from the University of Northern Iowa with a bachelors degree and moved to Rosenberg, Texas to teach math.
In 1995 he moved to Lewisville and began teaching and coaching at Arbor Creek Middle School. From 1995 to 1999 Snyder was also a volunteer wrestling coach at The Colony High School and head coach of The Matcats Wrestling Club for kids. During that time, he got involved with USA Texas Wrestling, serving in many capacities. He currently officiates the local freestyle tournaments
In 1999 Snyder was named the head coach at Hebron High School. While at Hebron his teams won a District and Regional championship. He also had a two-time state champion and an all-american in Greco-Roman wrestling. After seven years at Hebron, Snyder left the coaching world and began teaching at Centennial High School. The last two years he has been involved with officiating
He currently resides in Frisco with his wife Kelli and their two children, Jakson and Hadley.
Asst. Coach Andrew Keckonen
Coach Andrew Keckonen was born and raised in Carrollton, TX. It was here that he developed his love of wrestling from his father, a formal colligate wrestler at Eastern Michigan University. Coach Keckonen was a two time district champion as well as regional qualifier. After high school he attended Angelo St. University to compete in Power lifting. After one year he transferred to Texas Tech and then completed his Bachelors in Exercise Sport Science at Texas State University.
In 2007 he moved to Little Elm and began teaching and coaching at Hendrick Middle School in Plano. There he was the 8th grade head football coach as well as strength and conditioning coach. After one year he moved to Centennial where he is currently coaching freshman football as well as wrestling.
Coach Keckonen currently resides in Little Elm with his wife Sarah.
Asst. Coach Cody Bridwell
Coach Cody Bridwell is a 1994 graduate of Cheyenne Central High School in Cheyenne Wyoming. During his high school career, Coach Bridwell was a three time state placer and team captain for his team. Upon his graduation, Cody accepted a wrestling scholarship to Chadron State College in Chadron, NE under NCAA National Champion Coach Scott Ritsen. Coach Bridwell wrestled for one and a half years before having to quit the sport due to medical reasons.
Upon his graduation in 1999, Coach Bridwell earned dual Bachelors of Education degrees in Elementary Education and K-12 Special Education. After accepting a position with Coppell ISD, Cody helped Coach Carl Stralow and Chip Lowery build the wrestling program for the next nine years into the elite state contender it is today.
In the Summer of 2008, Coach Bridwell accepted a position with Centennial High School. He currently coaches Varsity and Junior Varsity Defensive Linemen in football and works with the heavier weights of the wrestling program.
Cody is husband to his lovely wife (Amanda) for 7 years now and proud father to his two children (Colton 4 and Malia 1).
