Cleveland State University head wrestling coach Josh Moore announced the hiring of Craig 'Boomer' Fechko as an assistant coach in August 2018.

Fechko’s second season on staff saw the Vikings demonstrate significant signs of progress as the program had one of its best seasons in recent memory.

The 2019-20 season was capped in style with seven Vikings placing at the Mid-American Conference Championships, five of whom outpaced their seed. As a result, Fechko helped Cleveland State to finish in the top half of the team standings at the event despite CSU being tabbed to finish dead last in the final pre-championship coaches' rankings. Cleveland State also had the highest finish of any of the MAC schools in Ohio.

Fechko helped have the Vikings wrestling their best at the most important time of the season. Cleveland State, which started three true freshmen and a redshirt freshman, led the MAC in largest seed-place difference at the 2020 league championship.

Northern Ohio native Evan Cheek led the way for the 2019-20 Vikings. With Fechko’s guidance, Cheek was named an Honorable Mention All-American by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Cheek had earned a top-16 seed for the NCAA Championships at 141 pounds after registering a 36-5 record on the season, including 18 bonus-point wins.

Fechko helped the Vikings to a noticeable improvement in dual format as well in 2019-20. Cleveland State’s nine wins tied its total from the previous three seasons combined and were its highest such total in 13 years. The Vikings posted their highest conference win total in over 15 years, including a come-from-behind win over local rival Kent State, CSU’s first victory over the Golden Flashes since the 2003-04 season.

Fechko’s first season at Cleveland State saw the Vikings redshirt three returning starters, including preseason conference favorite Evan Cheek, as the coaching staff looked to build for the future. Youth was served as Fechko helped guide a pair of freshmen, Ben Smith and Brady Barnett, to 18 and 17 wins, respectively, in their first seasons in CSU singlets. Smith was one of three Vikings to win a tournament during the 2018-19 season.

Fechko served as the associate head coach at Buffalo during the 2017-18 campaign, his third year on staff with the Bulls, primarily working with the UB lightweights. He was the recruiting coordinator and the team’s academic liaison while playing a vital role with all aspects of the program.

Fechko helped Bryan Lantry (133 pounds) become just the fifth wrestler in Buffalo history to qualify for the NCAA Championships on three occasions in the 2017-18 campaign. The Bulls also placed two student-athletes on the NWCA All-Academic Team and had four named to the Academic All-Mid-American Conference Team.

Lantry finished one win shy of All-America status in 2017 with Fechko’s assistance while Kyle Akins (125) also advanced to the NCAA Tournament that season. As a team, the Bulls posted a dual record of 11-6, their second straight season with double-digit wins. Buffalo also finished with a school-record four Mid-American Conference wins.

In his first season with the Bulls, Fechko helped coach Lantry (133) and Colt Cotten (149) to the NCAA Championships. He also helped lead UB to a 10-9 dual meet record, as the Bulls posted their highest win total since the 2003-04 season, and its first win over a nationally ranked opponent in six seasons.

Recruiting classes that Fechko was responsible for assembling were recognized with top-20 status by both Intermat and The Open Mat during his time at Buffalo.

Fechko joined Buffalo’s staff after one season as head coach at Dakota Wesleyan in 2014-15. The Tigers had two qualifiers to the NAIA National Championships, including an All-American. Fechko also helped Dakota Wesleyan to the seventh-highest team grade point average in the NAIA.

Fechko served as a volunteer assistant coach at Bloomsburg during the 2012-13 season where he helped six Huskies qualify for the NCAA Championships. Bloomsburg posted a 17-3 dual meet record and was the EWL Dual Meet Champion.

Prior to his time at Bloomsburg, Fechko served as a graduate assistant at Dakota Wesleyan from 2010-2012 and played a key role in both recruiting and day-to-day operations with the program. He helped DWU claim 15 selections to NAIA Nationals in his time as an assistant.

Fechko also had stints coaching at Quincy High School (Quincy, Calif.) and Brunswick High School (Brunswick, Ohio) early in his career.

Fechko earned All-American honors as a collegian for the University of Findlay before transferring to Heidelberg, where he qualified for the NCAA Championships once more.

A native of Broadview Heights, Ohio, Fechko graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Heidelberg University in 2009. He then earned a Master of Arts degree in educational policy and administration from Dakota Wesleyan in 2012.