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September 12, 2019 Ryan Warner

University of Michigan Head Coach Sean Bormet

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Sean Bormet was named the 10th head coach in the history of the Michigan wrestling program on March 27, 2018. Bormet, who spent seven years as the Wolverines’ top assistant, including four as associate head coach, is the fourth U-M alumnus at the helm.

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. The Wolverines have also recorded three consecutive top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships, including a fourth-place showing in 2018.

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.

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, Ill., 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, 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 was twice named the Wolverines’ Cliff Keen Award winner as the team’s most outstanding wrestler.