Wrestling Coach Joe McFarland Retires
March 18th, 2018 at 10:11 AM ^
March 18th, 2018 at 10:25 AM ^
March 18th, 2018 at 12:54 PM ^
Oklahoma State, Penn State, Iowa.....(gap)..... Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Minnesota
We are the only who has not won an NC.
edit: this was supposed to be in response to whoever said we are a top 5 program... its debatable, but we are close
OP wrote we're a top 10 team. Looks like you agree.
March 18th, 2018 at 10:33 AM ^
gotta at least ask. Whoever the new coach is, it would help to have lots of strong PA and OH connections.
And, thanks to the silver fox for a great run!
March 18th, 2018 at 10:40 AM ^
It's going to be hard for Ward to not promote Sean Bormet. That said, if a larger than life name surfaces they will have to make that hire if they want to elevate the program further. McFarland did a great job getting them this far and I wish him well in his retirement.
March 18th, 2018 at 10:52 AM ^
March 18th, 2018 at 11:07 AM ^
March 18th, 2018 at 11:22 AM ^
Michigan’s wrestling room does put them a leg up in recruiting now. They signed several studs this year. And I think with the room, UM’s academics, and graduate wrestlers training for Worlds, it does put them a leg up on most everyone. They will continue to be extremely good. But can they catch OSU and PSU, that is the question.
I think Bormet gets the job. Joe asked him to come back after being a successful Team USA coach for a few years. That being said, I’d for him or any new coach to push the guys to attack more. The Iowa style just wears down opponents and gets you stall calls. Look at Valencia last night and against Amine. He shot like 20x in each match. I loved it. Especially taking out Hall. I’d love our guys to start trending in that direction.
March 18th, 2018 at 11:49 AM ^
but he signed a long-term deal in July.
If the timing was different as regards U-M, there would have been a chance. Sanderson may have been looking for a different challenge in a different place.
I think his challenge now is to make a run at Iowa's "9 straight National Championships" --- PSU has a long way to go (they're at 3) but there is a chance to make a run at that. The pipeline is very strong. As of the moment, there's no school in collegiate wrestling that has the structural advantages that Penn State has.
March 18th, 2018 at 11:36 AM ^
Why would Sanderson be available? Does he have any ties to Michigan that I am unaware of? I honestly can't think of one thing Michigan has to offer in wrestling that Penn State doesn't have. He has what, 7 NCs there? I don't see us outbidding PSU financially. Are academic prestige and a nicer town/campus enough for him to consider a lateral (being somewhat generous) move?
March 18th, 2018 at 11:39 AM ^
March 18th, 2018 at 11:41 AM ^
McFarland was going to retire last year but changed his mind. He had decided to retire several months ago and those close to the program knew this.
I would agree that Sanderson isn't happening. He keeps winning titles at PSU and PA is the most talent rich high school wrestling state in the country (Michigan, while better in the past 20 years, is not even close). Their Olympic Regional Training Center is also the highest funded in the country. He has no reason to leave.
Sean Bormet (associate head coach and 1994 NCAA runner-up at UM) is the internal front runner but the Athletic Department has not committed to him yet. Most are hoping this is a formality.
If they decide to open up the search, names to consider would be Pat Popolizio (NC State), Tony Robie (Virginia Tech and former UM assistant), and Chris Bono (South Dakota State).
In any case, hat's off to Joe McFarland, the quintessential Michigan Man. He wrestled at UM (from Ohio), left a head coaching gig at Indiana in 1992 to return to UM as an assistant coach (because he wanted to be the head coach at UM), turned down multiple head coaching job offers while an assistant at UM, and spent the last 19 years as the head of the Wrestling Wolverines.
March 18th, 2018 at 11:44 AM ^
Nice post!
March 18th, 2018 at 11:57 AM ^
Brent Metcalf should at least get a phone call. The risk is he has limited coaching in his career thus far (currently an assistant at Iowa State). He is, of course, one of Michigan high school's wrestling legends.
March 18th, 2018 at 11:41 AM ^
McFarland was going to retire last year but changed his mind. He had decided to retire several months ago and those close to the program knew this.
I would agree that Sanderson isn't happening. He keeps winning titles at PSU and PA is the most talent rich high school wrestling state in the country (Michigan, while better in the past 20 years, is not even close). Their Olympic Regional Training Center is also the highest funded in the country. He has no reason to leave.
Sean Bormet (associate head coach and 1994 NCAA runner-up at UM) is the internal front runner but the Athletic Department has not committed to him yet. Most are hoping this is a formality.
If they decide to open up the search, names to consider would be Pat Popolizio (NC State), Tony Robie (Virginia Tech and former UM assistant), and Chris Bono (South Dakota State).
In any case, hat's off to Joe McFarland, the quintessential Michigan Man. He wrestled at UM (from Ohio), left a head coaching gig at Indiana in 1992 to return to UM as an assistant coach (because he wanted to be the head coach at UM), turned down multiple head coaching job offers while an assistant at UM, and spent the last 19 years as the head of the Wrestling Wolverines.
If not Cael, how about trying to poach someone from his staff?
March 18th, 2018 at 11:42 AM ^
McFarland was going to retire last year but changed his mind. He had decided to retire several months ago and those close to the program knew this.
I would agree that Sanderson isn't happening. He keeps winning titles at PSU and PA is the most talent rich high school wrestling state in the country (Michigan, while better in the past 20 years, is not even close). Their Olympic Regional Training Center is also the highest funded in the country. He has no reason to leave.
Sean Bormet (associate head coach and 1994 NCAA runner-up at UM) is the internal front runner but the Athletic Department has not committed to him yet. Most are hoping this is a formality.
If they decide to open up the search, names to consider would be Pat Popolizio (NC State), Tony Robie (Virginia Tech and former UM assistant), and Chris Bono (South Dakota State).
In any case, hat's off to Joe McFarland, the quintessential Michigan Man. He wrestled at UM (from Ohio), left a head coaching gig at Indiana in 1992 to return to UM as an assistant coach (because he wanted to be the head coach at UM), turned down multiple head coaching job offers while an assistant at UM, and spent the last 19 years as the head of the Wrestling Wolverines.
March 18th, 2018 at 11:49 AM ^
March 18th, 2018 at 11:56 AM ^
I'm thinking Rick Flair.
March 18th, 2018 at 11:55 AM ^
How about Pat Santoro (Lehigh), Pat Popolizio (NC State, 2016 National Coach of the Year), Brian Smith (Missouri, MSU Grad*), or:
Tony Robie (Virginia Tech, former UM assistant coach) VT finished 8th this season and has finished in the top 10 six straight seasons.
Robie came to Blacksburg after serving as the head coach at Binghamton University in New York. A two-time collegiate All-American and 1997 NCAA runner-up, Robie took over a program that had been discontinued after the 2003-04 school year because of budget constraints. Before taking over at Binghamton, he was an assistant coach for four seasons at the University of Michigan.
As the Wolverines’ top assistant coach, Robie recruited three top-10 classes, including the No. 2-ranked class in 2004. His one-on-one work with Michigan student-athlete Ryan Bertin culminated with Bertin’s 2003 NCAA championship – the school’s first national champion in 18 years. In all, Michigan’s team earned national top-10 status all four years that Robie was a coach there. His dedication and influence off the mat resulted in the wrestling team winning the 2003 community service award at the school.
Michigan has always been in the conversation with it's wrestling program with Coach McFarland. I wish him the best in retirement.
GO BLUE!!
I hope they stay in house and reward Sean Bormet. He's ready and it would be nice to bump up both coaches Churella and Russell a rung each.