Bryan MedlinCHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois wrestling Head Coach Jim Heffernan announced the hiring of Bryan Medlin as the program's Director of Operations on Thursday. In addition to being the Director of Operations for the team, Medlin will also serve as the Head Coach of the Illinois Regional Training Center. The addition completes Coach Heffernan's coaching staff after Mike Poeta was hired as an assistant coach in June. Medlin's hire is pending completion of the university hiring processes and Board of Trustees approval.
"Bryan brings a tremendous amount of experience and success to our program," Coach Heffernan said of Medlin. "I've gotten to know Bryan over the past several years. I have great trust in him, as he has the skills and desire to help Illinois continue to build a comprehensive program. He's a great fit and a very logical choice for our program."
Medlin comes to Illinois following a 10-year stint at Washington Community High School in Illinois. Inheriting a program that had never won a regional title as of 2007, Medlin coached Washington to seven regional titles in 10 years and has won each of the last two Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 2A dual state championships. Individually, 40 individuals have medaled at IHSA State Championships in the last eight seasons under Medlin.
"I am honored and humbled to be part of such an incredible staff," said Medlin upon accepting the position. "The University of Illinois is an outstanding program with a rich tradition, and I am excited to do my best to help to extend that excellence. We get into coaching to be a part of the sport we love, and to, hopefully, at some point, be part of something that is bigger than ourselves. Since I feel wholeheartedly that there is the potential for greatness here [at Illinois], this position hits both marks."
A native of Washington, Illinois, Medlin has been honored for his efforts at his alma mater throughout his time on the Washington High School bench. In 2015, Medlin was honored by the IHSA as its High School Coach of the Year and also earned the 2015 Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame Coach of the Year. Medlin has also been named the Central Illinois Coach of the Year ten times in his career.
In addition to his coaching at Washington, Medlin has also been a vital part of Team Illinois' recent Freestyle and Greco success, twice being named the National Greco-Roman Coach of the Year. Earlier this month, Medlin helped Team Illinois sweep the team title in both styles at Fargo Nationals. In total, Medlin boasts 10 national dual team championships, 19 Fargo Nationals team titles and more than 50 individual national champions.
For complete coverage of Fighting Illini wrestling, go to FIGHTINILLINI.com and follow @IlliniWrestling on Twitter and Instagram.
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