When the Mesa wrestlers meet their new coach on Thursday, the summer schedule will be distributed, and it will be on gold paper.

The color choice is on purpose – ink is hard to see on purple paper and white is too easily mixed with 99 percent of their other papers – so it stands out and easily remembered.

It is this type of forethought and attention to the most miniscule detail that makes David DiDomenico who he is and why also he stands out and remembered by the athletes he comes across.

The Hall of Fame wrestling coach is about to begin his third stint with the Mesa wrestling program after it was left in a bit of lurch when Mesa graduate and national champion Anthony Robles left unexpectedly left two years ago for Hamilton.

“We’re getting the band back together,” DiDomenico said. “We need to restore the culture and ideals of the program that has always made it successful.”

DiDomenico retired from teaching and coaching after the 2021-22 season, but it didn’t exactly take.

He still teaches history at Benedictine University in Mesa, and he was asked to take over the ALA-Gilbert North program for the 2023-24 season.

DiDomenico has a history of revamping programs and being a good mentor not only to wrestlers, but also young coaches who can take over a program when he steps away.

He has career dual record mark of 337-115 and was named coach of the year six times by various entities and was inducted in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2023.

David DiDomenico (center in purple) is expected to take over the Mesa program where he and coach Bobby Williams won three state titles. (Submitted photo)

So, places like ALA Gilbert North, which was a one-year stint, and now Mesa come calling.

He has rejuvenated programs at Amphitheater, Powell Junior High, Mesa (as an assistant), Red Mountain, Mesa (as a head coach) then ALA-GN and now Mesa again with the plan to hand it over to Mesa varsity assistant Tallyn Rhoades after a year or two.

“In order to be successful you have to have discipline in all facets of life and wrestling room,” he said. “That starts with the coaches. We have to be accountable, follow through on what we say we are going to do and instill it into the wrestlers.

“Mesa is a hard place to coach, but we know what it takes to be successful in this program. Coming back now gives us chance to restore the program.”

Longtime Mesa coach Bobby Williams remains on the staff. He was the head coach when DiDomenico joined Mesa the first time and Williams took over the Mesa program again last year after Robles left.

Now DiDomenico, who lives in the Mesa High boundary, and Williams are ready work together again – the Jackrabbits won three big school state titles from 2006-2008 that DiDomenico helped lay the foundation for before leaving for Red Mountain in 2007- in order to help the Mesa wrestlers understand what it means earn the right to wear a Mesa wrestling shirt and the respect and discipline needed to be part of the program.

Opposing coaches know the coaching combo of Williams (technique/tactician) and DiDomenico (motivator/discipline) is a pretty lethal and that they’ll get the most out of their kids.

“The competition is great,” Desert Vista coach David Gonzalez said. “You knew his kids are well coached and disciplines. And at the end you can have a good time with (DiDomenico) and he’s very well respected.”

The transformation begins Thursday with the first team meeting and that gold schedule everyone is handed at the meeting.

“We are going back to our roots,” DiDomenico said. “Our motto for the season is going to be ‘Earn it.’ They must understand the meaning of being a Mesa wrestler and what it takes to be part of the program. You can’t just show up when you want to and think you are part of the program. It’s an every day commitment.”