McLean County Times

Illinois Wesleyan University Athletic Director Mike Wagner announced the elevation of Adam Richards to interim head coach of the Titan men's and women's wrestling programs on Wednesday, September 4. Richards assumes the role after serving one year as an assistant coach.

"We are thrilled to have Adam step up and fill our men's and women's wrestling program in this interim role," said Wagner. "Even though this is currently an interim role, I know that he will attack this position with great enthusiasm and energy to continue the growth of the program that he helped reinstitute. Not only does he have local ties in the Bloomington-Normal community but also has great connections across the state and country to add quality student-athletes in terms of their academic profile, athletic prowess, and strong core values."

Prior to joining IWU's staff as an assistant in August 2023, Richards had 24 years of experience coaching wrestling at the high school level. The 1996 Bloomington High School graduate coached at his alma mater from 1998-2013 before shifting to Normal West where he coached from 2014 until his appointment at IWU in 2023.

At the high school level, Richards's resume includes 19 conference titles, 12 regional titles, and 21 IHSA individual state place winners. In his first season with the Titans, IWU finished 10th in the conference tournament with 30 points and had a third-place finisher in the 184-pound bracket in Bobby Conroy.

"I am deeply honored to accept the interim head wrestling coaching position at Illinois Wesleyan University," said Richards. "Building on the success of our first season back last year, I am excited to continue developing a program that not only excels on the mat but also shapes strong, resilient individuals off the mat. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Athletic Director Mike Wagner for this incredible opportunity to lead these teams and contribute to a tradition of hard work, dedication, and success that is the standard at IWU."

The Titan wrestling program will begin its competition season in November.