Charles Washington, Jr. will coach the Menlo-Atherton boys wrestling program this winter, M-A Athletic Director Steven Kryger announced Wednesday.

Phil Hoang has been coaching both the boys and girls programs the past few years and following the success of the girls program, the school decided to maintain separate coaches. M-A is the two-time defending Central Coast Section champions.

In four years, Hoang went from one female wrestler to nearly 20 and has coached a state champion (Chelsea Wilson), a state runner-up (Fola Akinola) and several other state qualifiers.

Washington, Jr., a Menlo-Atherton grad, is a firefighter for the Menlo Park Fire Protection District and has been assisting with the boys team the past five years. Washington wrestled and played football for the Bears.

Washington, who helped the M-A wrestling team win two Peninsula Athletic League titles, is in the process of filling out his staff with two highly qualified coaches.

Coach Hoang and Washington will be working together to coordinate practice schedules.