MANHEIM, Pa. – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) recently announced former Southwest Minnesota State University wrestling standout, Bill McDonald, was named the organization's 2025 Minnesota High School Boys' Head Coach of the Year.
 
McDonald and Kurt Becker, co-head coaches at Watertown-Mayer High School, share the award. The coaches were nominated by their state leaders for their outstanding work this season.
 
This past season, Watertown-Mayer finished 22-1 and captured the Class AA state championship. During his tenure as head coach beginning in 2017-18, Watertown-Mayer is 143-45 with a sixth-place state finish in 2024 and a fourth-place state finish in 2022. He has also been a head coach at both Fillmore Central High School and Planview-Elgin-Millville High School, racking up 168 victories and three state tournament appearances.
 
Along with the teams, McDonald has coached 68 individual state entrants, 32 place-winners, and eight individual state champions.
 
McDonald had a standout career for SMSU becoming the program's first four-time NAIA All-America placing seventh in 1986, fifth in 1987, second in 1988 and sixth in 1989. He finished his career with a 112-22 record and was a three-time conference champion with one runner-up finish. A team captain in 1988-89, he was named team MVP and was also selected as the SMSU's athlete of the year in 1988. McDonald was also a three-time NAIA District 13 champion.

McDonald was inducted into the SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor in 2002 and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Hall of Fame in 2007.
 
"These awards are about more than just wins and losses," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "They recognize the coaches who go the extra mile for their teams, their schools, and the sport. We're proud to shine a light on their efforts."