Northwestern Adds Futrell to Coaching Staff

Northwestern University announced via press release, the addition of BJ Futrell to the Wildcat coaching staff today. Futrell comes to Northwestern after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania. During those two seasons, Penn has sent 17 wrestlers to the NCAA Championships and produced an All-American around Futrell’s size (CJ Composto - 141 lbs/2022). 

Futrell is an Illinois native and won a pair of state championships for Mount Carmel High School. He later stayed in-state for college to wrestle at the University of Illinois. In Champaign, Futrell was a three-time NCAA qualifier and a two-time All-American, finishing eighth at 133 lbs in 2011 and sixth at the same weight class the following year. 

After his collegiate career concluded, Futrell spent a couple of cycles competing on the Senior freestyle circuit. During that time, Futrell won a pair of University National titles and later a silver medal at the World University Championships in 2014. Futrell also won titles at the Bill Farrell and the Dave Schultz Memorial. 

Futrell kicked off his collegiate coaching career coaching at the Naval Academy prior to the 2019-20 campaign. 

In addition, Futrell has been a key figure coaching freestyle with the Pennsylvania RTC. Earlier this summer, Futrell was named head coach for the U20 team that competed at the Pan-American Championships. That squad went on to capture gold medals in nine of ten weights.