Gold Medalist Burroughs Hired As Assistant Coach

Nebraska Wrestling Head Coach Mark Manning announced the hiring of Husker legend and Olympic Gold Medalist Jordan Burroughs as an assistant coach for the team on Friday.

“We are pleased to announce Jordan as one of my top assistants,” Manning said. “Jordan is one of the best wrestlers in the world and his accomplishments speak for themselves. We want him to continue to win World and Olympic titles until he completes his career. Jordan and his wife Lauren have made a commitment to be a part of Nebraska Athletics for a very long time. I along with the wrestlers and staff are glad to have the influence, mentorship and knowledge that Jordan brings to Nebraska wrestling. He has been a part of Nebraska wrestling for the last eight years and will continue to be a tremendous ambassador for the University of Nebraska.”

Burroughs previously served on the Nebraska wrestling staff as an administrative assistant for the 2012-13 season. He graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in sociology in May 2011.

“This is a huge stepping stone for my career and for Nebraska wrestling,” Burroughs said. “These are great facilities, people and tradition, and I’m extremely happy to continue to be a part of it. Now I get to look at things from the inside-out, whereas before it was from the outside-in. I want us to win team championships.”

A native of Sicklerville, N.J., Burroughs joins the staff in the midst of one of the most successful international freestyle wrestling careers in U.S. history. In addition to claiming the 74-kilogram Olympic Gold Medal at the 2012 Games in London, England, Burroughs won a pair of FILA World Championships in 2011 and 2013. He is also the three-time defending U.S. Open champion and two-time reigning World Cup champion.

Burroughs has earned several other titles during his post-collegiate career, including the 2011 Pan American Championships, 2011 U.S. World Team Trials, 2012 Olympic Trials, 2013 Alexander Medved Championships and 2013 Stephan Sargsyan Championships. In addition, he won his first 69 matches on the senior circuit.

Following the IOC’s initial recommendation to drop wrestling from the Olympics in February 2013, Burroughs became a key advocate to keeping the sport in the Games. In September 2013, the decision was overturned and wrestling will remain in the Olympics.

In 2011, Burroughs completed his decorated collegiate career with a second national title and claimed the Hodge Trophy Award. He went 36-0 as a senior at 165 pounds and also captured 2011 InterMat Wrestler-of-the-Year honors.

Burroughs’ first NCAA crown came in 2009, when he posted a perfect 35-0 record at 157 pounds. In 2009-10, his season was cut short by a torn PCL and LCL after racing to a 7-0 start.

The three-time All-American finished third at the 2008 NCAA Championships with a 34-6 record. He won a Big 12 title during the same season and added conference crowns in 2009 and 2011. Burroughs completed his college career with a 128-20 record, the fourth-most victories in school history. He also holds the fifth-best career winning percentage in Nebraska history at .865.