Michigan wrestling has rehired Kellen Russell as an assistant coach, head coach Sean Bormet announced Wednesday. Russell, a two-time NCAA champion and two-time Michigan Male Athlete of the Year, previously served on the Wolverines' staff for seven seasons from 2015-21.

Russell returns to Ann Arbor after five seasons at Cornell, including the last two as associate head coach. He helped lead the Big Red to four Ivy League and three EIWA team titles and contributed to the development of four national champions, 14 All-Americans and 21 conference champions. Cornell finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships in four of his five seasons, including second in 2024 and third in 2023. 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.

During his first stint on Michigan's staff, the Wolverines placed in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships in all but one season and posted three top-five finishes, including fourth in 2018 and fifth in both 2019 and 2021. Twenty-three Wolverines earned All-America honors over his seven seasons.

As a competitor, Russell is among the best wrestlers in Michigan history. He won back-to-back NCAA titles at 141 pounds in 2011 and 2012, becoming the sixth multi-time champion in program history, and was a three-time All-American. He went 38-0 in his junior season and claimed 71 of 72 matches over his final two years, including a perfect 14-0 record in collegiate overtime matches. Russell won four Big Ten titles at 141 pounds, becoming the first four-time Big Ten champion in Michigan history and just the 11th in conference history. He finished his collegiate career with a 134-12 record and a .918 win percentage, second-best in program history.

After graduating from Michigan in 2012, Russell competed internationally in freestyle for six seasons with Michigan's Cliff Keen Wrestling Club, winning the 66 kilograms title at the 2013 U.S. Open and earning runner-up honors at the 2013 World Team Trials.