Kellen Russell (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan wrestling assistant coach Kellen Russell will serve as a coach for the United States men's freestyle team at the 2018 United World Wrestling (UWW) Cadet World Championships, scheduled for July 2-8 in Zagreb, Croatia. He will coach alongside Kevin Jackson, USA Wrestling's freestyle developmental coach, and Arizona State assistant coach Lee Pritts.
The U.S. men's freestyle team was determined by a best-of-three championship series at the UWW Cadet World Team Trials on June 1-3 in Akron, Ohio. The team is made of rising high school juniors and seniors; to be eligible for UWW Cadets, athletes must have been born from 2001-03.
A two-time NCAA champion and four-time Big Ten champion at 141 pounds while at Michigan (2008-09, '11-12), Russell captured the 66kg/145.5-pound freestyle title at the 2013 U.S. Open and claimed runner-up honors at the 2013 World Team Trials. He also won medals at Dave Schultz Memorial International (gold, 2017), Guelph Open (gold, 2013) and Cuba's Cerro Pelado Tournament (bronze, 2014).
Russell's retirement from international competition coincided with his transition to the Wolverines' full-time coaching staff this past spring. He previously served as volunteer coach for the last four seasons, contributing to the development of 16 NCAA All-Americans over the stretch and three straight top-10 NCAA finishes, including last season's fourth-place showing.
Russell is the second Michigan coach to serve on the Cadet world team staff in as many years. Head coach Sean Bormet helped coach the 2017 squad to a second-place showing behind four individual champions.
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