No. 13 U-M earned bonus points in nine matches, including pins at 149 (Eric Grajales), 165 (Taylor Massa) and 174 (Dan Yates) pounds, to roll to a 46-0 shutout win in its season opener against Olivet.
Joe McFarland is in his 14th season as head wrestling coach at the University of Michigan, where he has lifted the Maize and Blue to the upper tier of collegiate wrestling.
Since taking over the reigns in 1999, McFarland has helped mold Michigan into a highly-touted national contender, guiding the U-M wrestling squad to three Big Ten dual-meet championships (2004, '05, '06) and eight consecutive top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships (2001-08) -- including an NCAA runner-up performance in 2005 -- under his leadership. He ranks third on Michigan's head coaching career wins list (153) under legendary head coach Cliff Keen (1926-42, '46-70) and his own collegiate coach, Dale Bahr (1979-99).
In the Wolverine wrestling room, McFarland has led 19 different student-athletes to five NCAA individual titles, 42 All-America citations and 17 Big Ten individual crowns. Among McFarland's most decorated pupils are two-time NCAA champion and four-time Big Ten champion Kellen Russell (2008-09, '11-12), two-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American Ryan Bertin (2002-05), NCAA champion and three-time All-American Steve Luke (2006-09), four-time All-American Eric Tannenbaum (2005-08) and three-time All-Americans Otto Olson (1997, '99-2002), Andy Hrovat (1999-2002), Ryan Churella (2003-06), Greg Wagner (2003-06), Josh Churella (2005-08) and Tyrel Todd (2006-09).
With his emphasis on academics, Michigan wrestlers have also earned numerous academic honors, including 34 individual distinctions by the National Wrestling Coaches Association and 79 by the Big Ten Conference. U-M has twice ranked among the top 10 both the final NCAA Championships and NWCA All-Academic team standings in the same season.
McFarland is the ninth coach to direct the Wolverine wrestling program and moved into the top spot on April 1, 1999, after working seven seasons as an assistant coach under Bahr. Since his return to Ann Arbor in 1992, McFarland has enjoyed considerable coaching recognition, including being named the National Wrestling Coaches Association's Assistant Coach of the Year in 1994.
Formerly the head wrestling coach at Indiana University (1990-92), McFarland produced one of the most impressive first-year improvements in Big Ten Conference history when he guided the Hoosiers to a perfect 14-0 dual meet record in 1989-90, the program's first undefeated season since 1946. IU placed eighth at the NCAA Championships that season and claimed runner-up honors at the Big Ten Championships. Indiana was also the only unbeaten team in NCAA Division I in 1989-90 and reached the No. 5 national ranking in the final dual-meet listing by Amateur Wrestling News. McFarland produced three All-Americans and three Big Ten champions and was named the 1990 Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year. He still lists as the only rookie coach to earn the prestigious honor since the award's inaugural year in 1988. He was also named Amateur Wrestling News' recipient of the 1990 national "Rookie Coach of the Year" award.
As a Wolverine wrestler (1981-82, 1984-85), McFarland compiled one of the most impressive careers in the program's history. His 166-24-4 career record ranks third to John Fisher (183 wins) and Otto Olson (175), while his 48 wins during the 1983-84 season are the most recorded by a Michigan wrestler in a single season. During McFarland's Michigan career, the Wolverines became one of the top teams in the Big Ten Conference and finished among the top 25 at the NCAA Championships in each of his seasons. Serving team captain in each of his final two seasons, McFarland helped lead the Wolverines to a fifth-place finish at the 1985 NCAA Championships. McFarland put together a four-time All-America career and was a two-time NCAA finalist at 126 pounds (1984, '85). He finished fifth (1981) and sixth (1982) in his first two national championship appearances.
McFarland is one of only six Michigan wrestlers to earn All-America honors in each of his four seasons, and, at the time of his accomplishment, was only the 27th wrestler in NCAA Division I wrestling history to achieve such distinction. His 18-7 career record is tied for third at U-M for most wins at the NCAA Championships. McFarland won the Big Ten crown in 1984, and reached the conference finals all four seasons. His 10-3 mark at the conference championship is tied for 10th all-time in U-M wrestling history. McFarland also won the prestigious Midlands Championship in 1982 and 1983.
After completing his Michigan eligibility, McFarland embarked on a successful international wrestling career. He was the silver medalist at the 1986 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. McFarland captured the 1987 Tblisi Tournament bronze medal before winning the 1988 World Cup Championship, where he defeated the Soviet Union's World Champion Hazar Isiev in the gold-medal match. McFarland was also named the Outstanding Wrestler of the 1988 USA-USSR dual meet in Orlando, Fla.
A graduate of North Olmstead High School, McFarland was a two-time Ohio state champion prior to his arrival in Ann Arbor. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan in 1985. McFarland resides in Whitmore Lake with his wife, Linda.
THE JOE McFARLAND FILE Born: April 28, 1962 Hometown: North Olmstead, Ohio High School: North Olmstead College: University of Michigan, 1985 Family: Wife, Linda
Collegiate Coaching Experience: University of Michigan (Head Coach), 1999-present. University of Michigan (Assistant Men's Coach), 1993-99. Indiana University (Head Coach), 1989-92. Indiana University (Assistant Coach), 1987-89. University of Michigan (Graduate Assistant), 1985-87.
Collegiate Coaching Highlights • Amateur Wrestling News Rookie Coach of the Year (1990) • Big Ten Coach of the Year (1990) • NWCA National Assistant Coach of the Year (1994)
Collegiate Wrestling Highlights • Four-time NCAA All-American (1981, '82, '84, '85) • Two-time NCAA finalist (1984, '85) • Big Ten champion (1985); Four-time Big Ten finalist • Career Collegiate Record: 166-24-4
Freestyle Wrestling Highlights • 1988 World Cup champion • 1987 World Cup bronze medalist • 1986 World Freestyle Championships silver medalist • 1987 Tblisi Tournament bronze medalist
