Mark Branch will continue as the head wrestling coach at the University of Wyoming team after signing a five-year contract extension.

Tuesday's announcement keeps Branch with the Cowboys through the 2022-23 season. He concluded his 10th season last spring and has a 100-49 overall dual record with a 49-14 mark in conference competition.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to continue what we started here,” Branch said in a release from the University of Wyoming. “The commitment that the University of Wyoming has made towards the wrestling program has given us the tools to be successful, and I’m excited about what the future holds.”

Under his guidance, the Pokes have sent 51 wrestlers to the NCAA Championships and 12 became All-Americans.

Branch was named Big 12 Wrestling Coach of the Year in March. Wyoming was 13-3 overall and 7-2 in duals against Big 12 opponents. The 13 dual victories were the fourth-most in a season in program history and their winning percentage of 81 percent is the sixth-best in a single season.

Branch has led the Cowboys to top-five finishes at the Big 12 Championships each of the last three years, which included a fourth-place finish in 2018. Last season seniors Archie Colgan and Bryce Meredith won the program’s first two Big 12 individual titles.

At the 2018 NCAA Championships, Meredith claimed national runner-up at 141 pounds for the second time in his career, while redshirt freshman Montorie Bridges earned All-America honors for the first time in his career. As a team, Wyoming had its best finish under Branch as they placed 17th.

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