Sean Bormet coaching Adam Coon in the NCAA finals (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics Warde Manuel announced today (Tuesday, March 27) the appointment of Sean Bormet as head coach of the wrestling program. Bormet, himself a former Michigan All-American, spent seven years as the Wolverines' top assistant, including the last four as associate head coach.
Bormet becomes the 10th head coach in Michigan program history, dating back to 1922, and the fourth U-M alumnus at the helm, joining Rick Bay (1971-74), Bill Johannesen (1975-78) and Joe McFarland (2000-18).
"I'm honored to become the 10th head wrestling coach at the University of Michigan and am thrilled for the opportunity to lead a program with such a rich tradition of excellence on and off the mat," said Bormet. "I want to thank our athletic director, Warde Manuel, and our athletic administration for their continued confidence in me.
"My commitment and passion for the University of Michigan and Michigan Athletics runs very deep. As a former student-athlete and alumnus, I can say with great confidence this is the best place to coach and enrich the lives of student-athletes. Joe McFarland had an incredible impact on me as an athlete and coach and did an outstanding job over the last 19 years as head coach. I am ready to build on the success of this last season and have very high expectations for the future of Michigan wrestling."
"I am delighted that Sean will lead our wrestling program following his tremendous contributions both as an associate head coach and as a former U-M student-athlete," said Manuel. "Following a thoughtful search, it was plainly obvious that the best candidate was already here at U-M. I was greatly impressed by Sean's approach throughout the interview process and with his plan to further elevate our program.
"Sean's accolades and abilities are widely known throughout the collegiate and international wrestling communities and reach far beyond his numerous coaching awards. Michigan wrestling could not have a better coach to lead us into the future."
Bormet takes over a Michigan program that recently claimed fourth place at the NCAA Championships -- its third straight top-10 finish -- behind five All-Americans and a pair of finalists. The Wolverines posted an 11-3 dual-meet record in 2017-18, including a 7-2 mark in Big Ten duals, and placed third at the Big Ten Championships with two individual champions.
Since returning to his alma mater, Bormet has helped mentor 14 different Wolverine All-Americans, with Michigan earning 16 All-America citations -- from 10 different wrestlers -- over the last four seasons. He was in Kellen Russell's corner when Russell captured his second NCAA title and fourth Big Ten title to finish a stellar collegiate career in 2012.
A skilled recruiter, Bormet has contributed to six top-10 recruiting classes, including the nation's consensus No. 1 class in 2013, and will bring another heralded class to Ann Arbor next fall.
image 29As a Wolverine student-athlete (1991-94), Sean Bormet was a two-time NCAA All-American at 158 pounds, placed second as a senior (1994) and third as a junior (1993), and earned back-to-back Big Ten 158-pound titles (1993, '94).
Bormet is a three-time winner of the Terry McCann Award as the USA Wrestling Freestyle Coach of the Year (2006, '08, '10) and serves on USA Wrestling's Executive Coaches Council. He was a member of the coaching staff for three U.S. World Championship Teams (2006, '09, '10) as well as the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Teams and 2010 World Cup Team. Among his most decorated post-collegiate wrestlers are 2008 Olympian Andy Hrovat (84 kg), 2009 World silver medalist and 2012 Olympian Jake Herbert (84kg) and 2006 World bronze medalist Donny Pritzlaff (74kg).
Bormet was also named the 2004 USA Wrestling Developmental Coach of the Year for his coaching achievements with age-group wrestlers and programs. He coached the Illinois Junior Freestyle Team to four dual national titles (2006, '07, '08, '10) and two national freestyle titles (2007, '10). He has coached numerous age-group national champions and All-Americans as a coach for the Illinois Junior and Cadet freestyle national teams.
As the owner and founder of the Overtime School of Wrestling in Naperville, Illinois, Bormet molded the training center into the nation's premiere wrestling club, producing numerous champions and All-Americans at all age levels since its opening in 2001. Alumni of the Overtime School of Wrestling include World medalists, Olympic and World team members, NCAA champions and All-Americans, USA Wrestling Junior and Cadet national champions and more than 150 Illinois and Indiana state champions.
Prior to founding the Overtime School of Wrestling, Bormet served as an assistant coach at Wisconsin (1995-99) and Michigan (1999-2000). He worked with two-time NCAA champion Donny Pritzlaff and three-time All-American Eric Jetton during his tenure at Wisconsin and All-Americans Otto Olson, Damion Logan and Andy Hrovat while at Michigan.
As a Wolverine student-athlete (1991-94), Bormet was a two-time NCAA All-American at 158 pounds, and placing second as a senior (1994) and third as a junior (1993). He garnered the prestigious Gorriaran Award at the 1993 event, registering three falls in a combined 8:58. He captured back-to-back Big Ten 158-pound titles (1993, '94) and won the prestigious Midlands at 158 pounds in 1993.
Bormet posted a 125-21 career record, including a 33-2 mark as a senior, to rank 13th among Michigan's all-time winningest wrestlers. He accumulated 44 career falls, leading the team with 15 during his junior season and 14 as a senior, to list fourth on the program's all-time pins list. A two-time team captain, Bormet twice was named the Wolverines' Cliff Keen Award winner as the team's most outstanding wrestler.
In addition to his collegiate success, Bormet also excelled in freestyle wrestling, placing second at 76kg at the 1999 U.S. Senior National and third at 74kg (163 pounds) in 1996. He took third place at the 1996 Olympic Team Trials and 1999 World Team Trials. While at Michigan, Bormet competed in the 1991 Espoir World Championships after claiming the Espoir national championship at 74kg. He participated in several international tours, claiming gold medals in Italy (1993), Greece (1996), Montreal (1997) and Poland (1998, 2000).
A native of Frankfort, Illinois, Bormet graduated from Michigan in 1994 with a degree in sport management. He and his wife, Teri, have a daughter, Zoe, and live in Ann Arbor.
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