ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — Northern State University has hired a coach to lead the wrestling program that the school suspended but then reinstated after an outpouring of financial support from across the country.

Rocky Burkett has spent the last three seasons as the head wrestling coach at Aberdeen Central High School. He led the Golden Eagles to the 2014 South Dakota State Wrestling Tournament team title.

Burkett returns to the NSU coaching staff after previous stints as a graduate assistant and assistant coach. He says being the head coach is "my dream job."

Northern State suspended the wrestling program in March and said it wanted to review the long-term viability and financing of the program for two seasons. But the school then received pledges of more than $70,000 per year for five years.

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