Tyler Graff at a press conference before Final X: Lincoln (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Rutgers wrestling head coach Scott Goodale added former Wisconsin four-time All-American and current USA World Team member Tyler Graff as a volunteer assistant coach for the 2019-20 campaign. Graff, who competed collegiately for the Badgers from 2008-14 at 133 pounds, will represent Team USA at the World Wrestling Championships from Sept. 14-22 in Nursultan, Kazakhstan after his 61-kilogram men's freestyle series victory at Final X: Lincoln on June 15.
"We're extremely excited to add Tyler Graff to our staff," Goodale said. "By securing a spot on the World Team last month, Tyler has shown he is one of the best wrestlers at his weight in the sport right now and brings Big Ten and freestyle experience into our room. He will do a great job of making our guys better as we continue to build off of last season's success."
A collegiate standout at Wisconsin, Graff was a four-time All-American and national runner-up for the Badgers. Graff earned 97 career victories in Madison, which included a 33-6 mark as a senior en route to an appearance in the 133-pound final at the national tournament in 2014. Graff, who also finished third and fifth (twice) at NCAAs, was a four-time Big Ten Championships placewinner and two-time Midlands Champion in 2009 and 2010.
Graff made a statement on the national stage earlier last month, as he downed Joe Colon in the 61-kilogram men's freestyle series final at Final X: Lincoln to secure his spot on the USA World Freestyle Team. Graff won the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament this past May to qualify for Final X. Graff is also a three-time University Nationals champion and a 2017 Pan American champion.
Scholastically, Graff was a four-time Colorado state champion at Loveland High School where he finished with a 162-1 career record. Graff tallied 101 career pins at Loveland and was a three-time Fargo All-American.
Rutgers is coming off an historic 2018-19 campaign which was capped by the program's first individual NCAA titles from Anthony Ashnault and Nick Suriano, as well as its first top-10 finish at the national tournament. Rutgers wrestled to a 12-6 dual record, which included wins over three ranked foes - No. 10 Wisconsin, No. 19 Princeton and No. 20 Purdue. RU returns five national qualifiers next season, including Suriano, who secured a 29-3 record to go along with his Big Ten and NCAA titles.
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