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AUG.14, 2026 —2010 Pal-Mac graduate Jake Hamilton said he didn’t always know he wanted to coach wrestling until he realized he missed it. Now, he’s winning awards for it.

Hamilton is the Head Women’s Wrestling Coach and Student Activities Coordinator at Southeast Community College (SCC) in Beatrice, Nebraska, a position he’s held since 2024.

In just his second full season, he was named the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) National Wrestling Coaches Association Coach of the Year and NJCAA Open Mat Coach of the Year. The Bobcats also finished as runner-ups in the 2026 NJCAA Women’s Wrestling Invitational in just their third year of competition.

“It was definitely an honor,” Hamilton said. “But it’s really a reflection of my athletes and the work they put in every day. You don’t earn something like that without the right people around you.”

And it was the right people, Hamilton said, who helped guide him on his journey from Pal-Mac to Niagara University and to the Midwest.

But we’ll start where it all began: at Pal-Mac. Hamilton was a three-sport athlete, as he of course wrestled, but also played lacrosse and football. He was also a regular in the weight room and Palmyra Community Center (PCC).

He also pitched in with adaptive physical education classes and worked with the Special Olympics through an internship.

But it was through the lacrosse program that he first got the coaching itch.​

His efforts caught the attention of Varsity Boys Lacrosse Head Coach Joe Hill, who noticed Hamilton was great with younger students. Hill encouraged Hamilton to help out at both lacrosse and wrestling camps, and so he did. Among his efforts was a stint with the Cobra Wrestling Club at SUNY Niagara in 2011, an experience  Hamilton said he absolutely loved.

And then there was the bond he built with coach Brian Quick. Hamilton said whether it was logging time in the wrestling room or miles between camps in Oklahoma or the Thousand Islands, he learned a lot just by observing and working with him.

He vividly remembers a daily conditioning exercise regimen Quick had him do. It involved several hundred jump reps on a jump rope, though Hamilton said he’d often reach 1,000.

“That’s the kind of standard he set,” Hamilton said. “More than anything, being part of that environment taught me discipline, accountability, and work ethic. You learn quickly that nobody is going to outwork you unless you let them, and that mindset has stayed with me.”

And the results paid off, as during his senior year, the team had a 20–1 dual meet record and saw a successful period where the team won both the dual and tournament state championships in 2009 and 2010.

Hamilton also credited other coaches, including E.J. Burse, Brody Sinack, John Burgess, and Tom Enright, who helped to build his confidence, leadership, and his coaching style.

After graduating from Pal-Mac, already familiar with the school, Hamilton went on to wrestle at SUNY Niagara for a year before finishing his college career playing lacrosse at Houghton College. He graduated with a degree in business administration and believed he’d put his sporting days behind him. 

But upon moving to Nebraska in 2014, he realized his true calling was in coaching. Sports had been a major part of his life since he was nine years old, and he found he couldn’t just walk away from that.

“I remember thinking how cool it would be to do this full-time,” Hamilton said. “People always say if you’re passionate about what you do, it never feels like work, and that’s exactly how I feel now.”

Hamilton started coaching elementary and middle school athletes in 2015, then became the head club wrestling coach in Valentine, Nebraska, in 2016. From 2017–2023, he served as the head middle school coach and assistant high school coach while continuing as a club coach. 

Then came the collegiate calling. In 2023, he was offered the Associate Head Women’s Wrestling Coach position at Southeast, and in 2024 was named Head Coach. 

​When asked about the experience of being a head coach, Hamilton said what he does is not defined by just the day-to-day. When he’s not out on the recruiting trail, he’s helping to mentor and guide his student-athletes in the classroom and in life.

"You’re guiding 18–20-year-olds through a major transition,” Hamilton said. “Wrestling is just one part of it; we're building people to succeed in life, not just on the mat.”

And that same mindset was apparent when we asked Hamilton what his proudest moment was since graduating.  He told us being a father to his three daughters, Gracyn, Tomi, and Paisly is at the top of his list. 

But he added that not far behind is the experience of watching his student-athletes grow up and succeed. And yes, he said the Coach of the Year nod was nice, too.

As with every spotlight, we ask an alum to share some advice with recent and soon-to-be graduates, to which Hamilton said:

“Take advantage of where you’re at right now,” Hamilton said. “Don’t wait for “later.” Build habits, work hard, and stay consistent. That's what separates people. Talent only takes you so far. Have a growth mindset and be willing to outwork everyone.”

And to finish off our conversation, Hamilton added he remains grateful for where he came from. As a place like Pal-Mac helped shape who he became, and he carries that with him every day in how he coaches and leads.

Know an amazing alum who should be recognized? Fill out our form! Pictures and/or video can also be sent to Public Information Coordinator Andrew Hyman at andrew.hyman@palmaccsd.org