Central Michigan Head Coach Tom Borrelli to Step Down after 2024 NCAA Championships

Two days after leading the Central Michigan wrestling team to its 15th MAC Championship under his watch, head coach Tom Borrelli announced he would be stepping down at the conclusion of the 2024 NCAA Championships. The announcement was first posted on the Central Michigan athletics site. 

CMU took the 2024 MAC title on the strength of a conference championship from Alex Cramer, at 174 lbs, and a finals appearance from 149 lber Corbyn Munson. As of Monday, three Chippewa wrestlers have qualified to compete at nationals in Kansas City (157 lber Johnny Lovett is the other). 

During his tenure in Mount Pleasant, Coach Borrelli amassed a 368-179 dual record. He coached one national champion (Casey Cunningham - 1999), who was one of 45 All-Americans and 93 MAC champions for CMU. Ten times his wrestlers earned MAC Wrestler of the Year honors - most recently Matt Stencel, who earned the honor in 2020 and 2022. 

While at Central Michigan, the Chippewas finished in the top-ten at the NCAA Championships on three occasions - topping out at fifth in 1998. The following year they were seventh with five All-Americans - a highwater mark under Borrelli. 

Not only has Borrelli had success in the win-loss category, but he has had a knack for developing coaches, as well. Three current DI head coaches are CMU alums and wrestled under Borrelli. Campbell’s Scotti Sentes, CSU Bakersfield’s Luke Smith, and American’s Jason Borrelli - son of Tom. 

Coach Borrelli’s successor will not inherit a bare cupboard. Of the Chippewa’s starters, only Munson has exhausted his eligibility, so CMU should likely be in the driver’s seat for the MAC in 2024-25.