Riverton, WY— The Central Wyoming College Athletics department is thrilled to announce the hiring of Zach Curran as the new Head Coach for the Rustlers' men's and women's rodeo team. A distinguished CWC alumnus and highly accomplished professional cowboy, Curran returns to Riverton to lead the program where his own collegiate career began.

An Alumnus Built on Rustler Tradition

Curran's appointment brings his rodeo career full circle. He attended Central Wyoming College on a full rodeo scholarship, graduating with an Associate of Arts degree in 2005. During his time as a Rustler, Curran was a dominant force in the arena, qualifying twice for the College National Finals Rodeo (2004 and 2005). In 2004, he secured a Top 4 finish at the CNFR, and in 2005, he was crowned the Reserve Central Rocky Mountain Region Champion.

"It's going to be a big change after all of the years that Drew Schrock had put into building this program up," said CWC Athletic Director Steve Barlow. "But I'm confident that Zach possesses the necessary expertise and skills to continue to grow the legacy of the Central Wyoming College Rodeo team for the coming years."

Elite Professional Experience and Horse Craftsmanship

Beyond his collegiate accolades, Curran spent 12 years as a cardholder in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association from 2003 to 2015. Over his illustrious professional career, he was a 10-time qualifier to the Mountain States Circuit Finals, a 3-time qualifier to the Dodge National Circuit Finals, and consistently secured multiple Top 30 and Top 50 finishes in the PRCA World Standings.

In addition to his prowess in the roughstock chutes, Curran is a highly respected horseman. Since 2012, he has owned and operated Curran Equine, LLC, specializing in starting colts and natural horsemanship. He trained under the watchful eye of legendary horseman Bill Smith and has started young horses for industry icons like Sherry Cervi (4x World Champion Barrel Racer) and Cory Petska (2017 PRCA World Champion Heeler) at the Potter Ranch in Arizona.

Curran is also a familiar face to the CWC academic community, having served as an Adjunct Instructor from 2024 to 2025.