Bio

Donnie Stephens was named the head women’s wrestling coach at Garden City Community College on Feb. 24, 2006.

Stephens brings more than two decades of coaching experience across the high school, collegiate, club, and international levels, along with a proven track record of developing national champions, All-Americans, and elite-level competitors.

Stephens arrived at Garden City after serving as the inaugural head women’s wrestling coach at Newberry College, where he spent three seasons building the program’s competitive and academic foundation while emphasizing accountability, discipline, and athlete development.

Prior to Newberry, Stephens spent 10 years at the University of the Cumberlands, helping establish one of the nation’s premier women’s wrestling programs. During his tenure, he coached three NAIA national champions, one WCWA national champion, 16 NAIA All-Americans, and 24 WCWA All-Americans.

Stephens also coached the three winningest wrestlers in program history, each surpassing the 100-win mark. Under his leadership, the program earned three NWCA Academic Team championships, the NAIA Champions of Character award, and numerous conference and institutional honors for academic achievement and community involvement.

In addition to his collegiate coaching success, Stephens has been heavily involved with USA Wrestling since 2007, serving as a volunteer coach at multiple levels, including the Senior World Championships.

At the club level, Stephens founded Wolverine Wrestling in California and currently coaches with the nationally recognized Titan Mercury Wrestling Club.

Stephens began his coaching career at the prep level, spending nearly 20 years as head coach at West Covina High School in California. During that time, he played a significant role in the early growth of girls wrestling in the state and helped guide athletes to the program’s first women’s state championship.

A native of southeastern Colorado, Stephens began wrestling at age four before competing at Pueblo East High School in Colorado and later finishing his prep career at West Covina High School in California. He continued his wrestling career collegiately at California State University, Bakersfield.

Stephens earned a Bachelor of Science in Coaching from the University of the Cumberlands.

He and his wife, Shirley, have been married for 25 years and have three children. Their daughter, Jaine, is a mental health counselor and wrestling coach, while their son, Daniel, teaches and coaches at the middle school level. Their son, Boy, is an aerospace engineering student in Chicago. The Stephens family is also preparing to welcome their first grandchild.