Staff Directory
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- Wrestling Assistant Coach
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Kellen Russell is in his eighth overall season as an assistant coach for the University of Michigan wrestling program. A two-time NCAA champion and Michigan Male Athlete of the Year, Russell returned to the Wolverine coaching staff in summer 2026 after five seasons at Cornell. He previously served as a U-M assistant coach from 2015-21.
Russell returned to Ann Arbor after spending five seasons (2022-26) on the coaching staff at Cornell University, including the last two as associate head coach. He helped lead the Big Red to four Ivy League and three EIWA team titles and assisted in the development of four national champions, 14 All-Americans and 21 conference champs. He was part of the 2025 Ivy League Coaching Staff of the Year after Cornell captured its first Ivy League Tournament title with five champions and 10 NCAA qualifiers. The Big Red finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships four of his five seasons, including second in 2024 and third in 2023.
During his time on Michigan's coaching staff, the Wolverines placed top 10 at the NCAA Championships in all but one season and boasted three top-five finishes, taking fourth place in 2018 and fifth in both 2019 and 2021. Twenty-three Wolverines earned All-America honors -- plus another four from the NWCA in 2020 -- over Russell's seven seasons on staff.
Among the best wrestlers in Michigan wrestling history, Russell was a two-time NCAA champion at 141 pounds (2011, '12) and three-time All-American, also placing seventh as a sophomore (2009). He became the sixth multi-time champion in program history with a 6-4 sudden-victory decision over Iowa's Montell Marion at the 2012 NCAA tournament. A year earlier, he defeated Cal Poly's Boris Novachkov, 3-2, in the 141-pound final to complete a perfect 38-0 junior campaign. Russell, who redshirted prior to his junior season, claimed 71 of 72 matches over his final two seasons. He boasted a perfect 14-0 record in collegiate overtime matches.
Russell also claimed four Big Ten titles at 141 pounds, becoming just the 11th four-time Big Ten champion in conference history and the first for Michigan. He was named the Co-Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Championships as a senior (2012) and Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2008. Twice named Michigan's Male Athlete of the Year (2011, '12), Russell completed his collegiate career with a 134-12 record, tying for eighth place on Michigan's all-time wins list. His career win percentage of .918 ranks second in program history.
After his graduation, Russell competed internationally in freestyle for six years with Michigan's Cliff Keen Wrestling Club. He captured the 66kg title at the 2013 U.S. Open and claimed runner-up honors at the 2013 World Team Trials, while claiming international medals at the Dave Schultz Memorial (gold, 2017), Guelph Open (gold, 2013) and Cuba's Cerro Pelado Tournament (bronze, 2014).
Originally from High Bridge, New Jersey, Russell graduated from Michigan in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He and his wife, Delia, have a daughter, Ella.
