Tyler Hawkins is entering his second season as Head Wrestling Coach at Gladden Middle School and his third year in coaching overall. He began his coaching career in 2024 as an assistant at Murray County High School, where the Indians had eight state qualifiers and four state placers during his first season.

Hawkins took over the Gladden wrestling program in 2025 and in his first full season as head coach, he led the Warriors to a Traditional League Championship. At the league tournament, 14 of 16 Gladden wrestlers placed, including three individual league champions.

A lifelong Murray County wrestler, Hawkins competed for 12 years from kindergarten through his senior year of high school. He wrestled for the Murray County Takedown Club, Bagley Middle School and Murray County High School. At Bagley, he was part of two league championship teams. At Murray County, he was a three-year varsity wrestler, a state qualifier and was named the 2011 All-Area Wrestler at 145 pounds. He was also part of a team that finished Area Runner-Up and earned a Top 6 finish at the Class 5A State Duals his freshman year.

Hawkins’ coaching philosophy is heavily rooted in his Christian faith. He believes wrestling is a powerful tool for developing more than athletes. The sport teaches discipline, accountability, determination and humility, and he strives to use those lessons to help young people grow into stronger men and women. His goal is not simply to help wrestlers become the best competitors they can be, but to help them become the best people they can be.

Hawkins is married and the father of three children. His faith and family are the foundation of his life and continue to shape the way he leads, coaches and serves his athletes.