Photo by: Penn Athletics
B.J. Futrell Joins Northwestern Wrestling Coaching Staff
7/26/2023 10:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Two-time All-American most recently served as an assistant coach at Penn
EVANSTON, Ill. (July 26, 2023) – Northwestern University head wrestling coach Matt Storniolo announced the addition of B.J. Futrell to his coaching staff on Wednesday. Futrell, a former United States freestyle national team member and two-time All-American who will serve as an assistant coach, joins the 'Cats after spending the last two seasons at the University of Pennsylvania.
"I am thrilled to welcome B.J. to our Wildcat wrestling family," Storniolo commented. "He was a fierce competitor during his collegiate and senior level days and will bring a wealth of knowledge to the program. He is a well-rounded, energetic coach and a mentor of the highest character. His impact will be felt immediately. I look forward to working with B.J. to take Northwestern wrestling to new heights, both on and off the mat."
"I want to thank Scott Arey, Matt Storniolo, and the selection committee for entrusting me with this opportunity," Futrell said. "I'm excited to elevate and accelerate this program's rich tradition and develop a culture that enables our student-athletes to excel in the classroom, in the community, and in competition."
During his two-year stint with the Quakers, Futrell mentored 17 NCAA Qualifiers. That group was highlighted by CJ Composto (141 pounds), who enjoyed a standout debut campaign in 2021-22, claiming All-American honors at the NCAA Championships in addition to being named Freshman of the Year by both the Ivy League and the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA). Futrell also enjoyed success on the recruiting trail while at Penn, most recently helping the program secure four top-100 recruits for the class of 2024.
Prior to his time in the City of Brotherly Love, Futrell spent the abbreviated 2019-20 season as an assistant coach at the United States Naval Academy. Five Midshipmen punched tickets to the NCAA Championships, with both Tanner Skidgel (165 pounds) and Spencer Carey (174 pounds) collecting All-America distinction from the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). Skidgel and Cody Trybus (141 pounds) also won EIWA individual titles.
No stranger to coaching on the national stage, Futrell was selected as the head coach of Team USA for the U20 Pan American Championships earlier this summer in Santiago, Chile. He piloted Team USA to gold medals in nine out of 10 weight classes, with athletes posting an impressive 34-1 combined record. Team USA outdistanced runner-up Canada by 91 points for the team title, while Nick Bouzakis (61 kg) took home the Golden Boot as the Outstanding Wrestler in the Tournament.
Futrell, a two-time University National Champion and World silver medalist, also owns coaching experience at the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center (PRTC), where he worked with U23 National Champion Doug Zapf (70 kg) and 10 All-Americans between Freestyle & Greco Roman.
A three-time All-Big Ten honoree during his career at the University of Illinois, Futrell earned All-American finishes at both the 2011 and 2012 NCAA Championships. A two-time finalist at the Midlands Championships, the Park Forest, Ill. native attended Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, where he posted back-to-back undefeated seasons en route to winning a pair of Illinois High School Association (IHSA) state titles.
"As a coach, I consider myself to be the caretaker of my student-athletes' dreams," Futrell concluded. "It is a dream and honor of mine to coach here at Northwestern University and be back in the conference where I once competed, in a community that I care for, and in the state that I will always consider to be home."
A three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and two-time All-Academic pick by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), Futrell graduated from Illinois in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology before earning a master's degree in educational policy studies in 2013.
"I am thrilled to welcome B.J. to our Wildcat wrestling family," Storniolo commented. "He was a fierce competitor during his collegiate and senior level days and will bring a wealth of knowledge to the program. He is a well-rounded, energetic coach and a mentor of the highest character. His impact will be felt immediately. I look forward to working with B.J. to take Northwestern wrestling to new heights, both on and off the mat."
"I want to thank Scott Arey, Matt Storniolo, and the selection committee for entrusting me with this opportunity," Futrell said. "I'm excited to elevate and accelerate this program's rich tradition and develop a culture that enables our student-athletes to excel in the classroom, in the community, and in competition."
During his two-year stint with the Quakers, Futrell mentored 17 NCAA Qualifiers. That group was highlighted by CJ Composto (141 pounds), who enjoyed a standout debut campaign in 2021-22, claiming All-American honors at the NCAA Championships in addition to being named Freshman of the Year by both the Ivy League and the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA). Futrell also enjoyed success on the recruiting trail while at Penn, most recently helping the program secure four top-100 recruits for the class of 2024.
Prior to his time in the City of Brotherly Love, Futrell spent the abbreviated 2019-20 season as an assistant coach at the United States Naval Academy. Five Midshipmen punched tickets to the NCAA Championships, with both Tanner Skidgel (165 pounds) and Spencer Carey (174 pounds) collecting All-America distinction from the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). Skidgel and Cody Trybus (141 pounds) also won EIWA individual titles.
No stranger to coaching on the national stage, Futrell was selected as the head coach of Team USA for the U20 Pan American Championships earlier this summer in Santiago, Chile. He piloted Team USA to gold medals in nine out of 10 weight classes, with athletes posting an impressive 34-1 combined record. Team USA outdistanced runner-up Canada by 91 points for the team title, while Nick Bouzakis (61 kg) took home the Golden Boot as the Outstanding Wrestler in the Tournament.
Futrell, a two-time University National Champion and World silver medalist, also owns coaching experience at the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center (PRTC), where he worked with U23 National Champion Doug Zapf (70 kg) and 10 All-Americans between Freestyle & Greco Roman.
A three-time All-Big Ten honoree during his career at the University of Illinois, Futrell earned All-American finishes at both the 2011 and 2012 NCAA Championships. A two-time finalist at the Midlands Championships, the Park Forest, Ill. native attended Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, where he posted back-to-back undefeated seasons en route to winning a pair of Illinois High School Association (IHSA) state titles.
"As a coach, I consider myself to be the caretaker of my student-athletes' dreams," Futrell concluded. "It is a dream and honor of mine to coach here at Northwestern University and be back in the conference where I once competed, in a community that I care for, and in the state that I will always consider to be home."
A three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and two-time All-Academic pick by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), Futrell graduated from Illinois in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology before earning a master's degree in educational policy studies in 2013.
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