Joe McFarland embarks on his 13th 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 (132) 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 18 different student-athletes to four NCAA individual titles, 40 All-America citations and 15 Big Ten individual crowns. Among McFarland's most decorated pupils are two-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American Ryan Bertin (2002-05), NCAA champion and three-time All-American Steve Luke (2006-09), NCAA champion Kellen Russell (2008-present), 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 31 individual distinctions by the National Wrestling Coaches Association and 69 by the Big Ten Conference. U-M has twice ranked among the top 10 at the NCAA Championships and in the NWCA All-Academic team standings.
On the recruiting front, the University of Michigan has boasted classes ranked among the best in the nation in each of McFarland's seasons, ensuring the continued success of the U-M wrestling program for years to come. His 2009 contingent -- the Wolverines' current sophomore class -- was ranked ninth by InterMat, fourth by Wrestling USA magazine and combined for 13 state or prep titles and a pair of Senior High School Nationals titles. It was Michigan's third straight top-10 recruiting class.
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, which is considered by many to be the toughest collegiate wrestling league in the country. Michigan finished among the top 25 at the NCAA Championships in each of McFarland's seasons. Serving as a two-time team captain in his final two seasons, McFarland helped lead the Wolverines to a fifth-place finish in his final competitive appearance at the annual event (1985). McFarland put together a four-time All-America career under Coach Bahr, and was twice an NCAA finalist at 126 pounds, placing second at the NCAA Championships in 1984 and `85. He finished fifth (1981) and sixth (1982) in his first two national championship appearances.
McFarland is one of only four 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.
