Joe Parisi is entering his 11th year as the head coach of the Lindenwood wrestling team. Parisi is one of the most successful coaches Lindenwood has ever had in any sport.
He has led the Lions to five NAIA National Championships, two NAIA runner-up finishes, three NAIA National Duals Championships, and two NAIA National Duals second-place showings. He has coached 115 All-Americans, 28 national champions, and has been named the National Coach of the Year five times. The wrestling program has produced the third most team national championships and the fourth most individual national championships in the history of the NAIA.
In 2008-2009, the Lions won their third straight national championship and fifth overall under the guidance of Parisi. The Lions finished the regular season ranked second in the final polls but ended with a national championship. The Lions featured eight All-Americans, three individual national champions and the NAIA wrestler of the year. In addition, the Lions were 3-0-1 in duals and finished second in the NWCA/NAIA National Duels because of a tiebreaker.
In 2007-2008, the Lions won their fourth national championship and repeated titles for the first time. To go along with the team championship, the Lions had three individual national champions and featured five All-Americans. In addition, the Lions finished the season with a perfect 4-0 record and Parisi won his fourth national coach of the year award.
In 2006-2007, the Lions won the first of their current run of national championships and it was one of the most dominating championship performances in NAIA history. The Lions scored the fourth most points and the 67 points they won by was the second largest winning margin in the NAIA. All twelve grapplers that competed in the national tournament were named All-Americans. In addition, the Lions were 4-0 in duels and were ranked number one in the country when the final polls were released.
Between the years of 2003 and 2006, Lindenwood won the 2005 title and finished runner-up in 2003 and 2006. Parisi won the national coach of the year award after his title season in 2005. In 2002, the Lions won the first ever wrestling national championship in school history and Parisi won his first coach of the year award.
Before coming to Lindenwood Parisi was the head assistant coach at Missouri Valley beginning in 1994. While at Missouri Valley, the program won national championships in 1996 and 1997, and was runner-up in 1995 and 1998.
Currently, Parisi serves as a member of the Executive Board of Directors for the NAIA National Wrestling Coaching Association. He has recently been selected to serve as a mentor for the first ever College Coaches Leadership Academy to serve as a content provider and mentor for the inaugural event. In addition, Parisi has coached internationally. He coached 16 Australian National Champions in freestyle and greco-roman wrestling. Parisi was selected to be an honorary coach for the prestigious 2004 NWCA All-Star Classic, and an honorary coach for the 2006 NWCA Non-Division I All-Star Classic. He is a certified personal trainer through the International Fitness Association.
Parisi graduated from Parkway Central in Missouri and earned collegiate All-American honors in 1991.
