Coaching Staff

Jason Eckenrod | Assistant Coach

Jason Eckenrod joined the Millikin staff as an assistant wrestling coach in May of 2015.  Eckenrod has played a key role in the Big Blue's rise to a national contender since the program returned to competition in 2015-16.  Eckenrod was a key member of the staff that received the 2022 Region Assistant Coaching Staff of the Year Award.

Eckenrod brought over 20 years of coaching experience to the Big Blue program.  In addition to serving two years as a volunteer assistant at Millikin, Eckenrod’s experience includes coaching at the high school, junior high and club levels.

Eckenrod wrestling collegiately for one season at Drake University where he scored 24 wins.  At Benton Community High School in Iowa, Eckenrod was 114-10 as a wrestler with three state places and four state qualifying performances.  He was also an All-State defensive back in football.

Jason and his wife Suzanne have a son, Jake, and one daughter, Lexie.

Brendan Ladd | Assistant Coach

Brendan Ladd joined the Big Blue Athletics staff in as the Assistant Wrestling Coach in August 2022.

In 2021, Ladd served as the Assistant Men’s and Women’s Wrestling Coach at Albion College for their first competitive season since 1979. A roster of mostly freshmen resulted in five All-MIAA athletes, two MIAA Champions, three National Qualifiers, and four NWCA Scholar All-Americans.

Ladd also previously held a position as Assistant Wrestling Coach at SUNY Cortland for the 2020-21 season.

He attended Alma College from 2016-2020 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management. He achieved NCAA Division III All-American status twice before the NCAA tournament was canceled his senior year. The NWCA then voted for Ladd to gain All-American status a third time. He achieved over 100 collegiate victories, numerous tournament titles, and was a three-year captain for the program. During this time Ladd also served as an Assistant Coach to the Mid-Mitten Wrestling Club.

Bradan Birt | Assistant Coach

Two-time national champion Bradan Birt joined the Millikin wrestling coaching staff as an assistant coach in August 2022.

Birt is the most decorated wrestler in Millikin history winning two national titles and earning All-American honors five times. He was a record five-time College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Champion. He finished his career with a record 159-13 (.924) setting Millikin records for most wins and highest winning percentage. Birt was named the CCIW’s Most Outstanding Wrestler three times.

As a senior, Birt won the NCAA Division III national title at 165 pounds with a perfect 42-0 record. He was named the NCAA Division III National Tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler and the top ranked athlete in the NCAA Division III Dominant Wrestler rankings. Birt won the 2021 NWCA Division III National Championship at 165 pounds and was named Most Outstanding Wrestler of that event. He finished his career with an 80 match winning streak. From the start of the 2019-20 season, Brit was 92-1 with 87 bonus point victories.

Birt excelled in the classroom as well. He was named to the 2021 and 2022 Academic All-America® At-Large Second Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizing the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. He was a four-time NWCA Scholar All-American, the 2021-22 CCIW Elite 25 Award Winner and a four-time CCIW Academic All-Conference honoree.

Birt graduated from Millikin in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management. In addition to working with the Big Blue wrestlers, Birt is the owner of Big Blue Energy Drinks.

Frank Tomaskovic | Assistant Coach

Former Millikin wrestler Frank Tomaskovic joined the Millikin staff as an assistant wrestling coach in August 2022.

Tomaskovic earned College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) All-Conference honors during his Millikin career.

In addition to working with the Millikin wrestlers, Tomaskovic is a teacher and wrestling coach at Stephen Decatur Middle School in Decatur.

Tomaskovic graduated from Millikin in 2020 with a degree in Physical Education.