Russell Returns to Michigan Coaching Staff

It’s a Michigan homecoming! The Wolverines announced on Wednesday that two-time NCAA champion Kellen  Russell will return to Ann Arbor as an assistant coach.

Russell previously spent seven years on the Michigan coaching staff before leaving for Cornell in 2021. While at Cornell, Russell assisted on a pair of teams that won trophies at the NCAA Tournament (3rd/2023 and 2nd/2024).

The Big Red also had two wrestlers combine for four NCAA titles with Russell on staff. Russell was also involved with a pair of top-five recruiting classes at Cornell (3rd/2025 and 4th/2023).

In his first stint on the Michigan staff, Russell and the Wolverines finished fifth in the nation three times, including a fourth-place team trophy in 2018.

While competing for Michigan, Russell won national titles in 2011 and 2012 at 141 lbs. Russell went unbeaten as a junior and was 71-1 during his final two seasons. He also earned All-American honors by finishing seventh as a sophomore.

Russell also became the first Michigan wrestler to capture four Big Ten titles. At the time, he was the 11th wrestler to accomplish the feat.

There was a vacancy on the Michigan staff after longtime assistant coach and Wolverine alum Josh Churella stepped down earlier this offseason.