UNC Wrestling: North Carolina graduate Rob Koll named Head Coach

The UNC Wrestling program has hired a former North Carolina graduate, 1988 National Champion wrestler Rob Koll as their new head coach.

On August 31, the UNC Wrestling program announced the hiring of the seventh head coach in program history, Rob Koll, an NCAA Champion wrestler during his time at North Carolina.

Koll graduated from The University of North Carolina in 1988 with a record of 155-20-1 during his collegiate career. Koll’s 155 wins are the most in the history of the ACC and North Carolina’s program history. Koll was a three-time ACC champion at the 158-pound weight class and was the 1988 NCAA National Champion, with him becoming the second wrestling national champion ever at North Carolina.

After graduating from North Carolina, Koll became the assistant coach at Cornell, which lasted four seasons. He was then named to the head coach role at Cornell in 1993, where he spent 28 seasons in that role. During his tenure, he led Cornell to a 317-101-5 record with 20 Ivy League championships, 71 All-Americas, and 16 NCAA individual national championships.

Koll left Cornell in 2021 to become Stanford’s 31st head coach in program history. He spent two seasons as the program’s leader, producing three All-Americas and three Pac-12 champions.

Koll’s career numbers are extraordinary as he joins the Tar Heels for the foreseeable future. During his 30 seasons as a head coach, Koll has produced 16 NCAA individual national champions, 74 All-Americans, 20 Ivy League championships, 24 NCAA finalists, and one Hodge Trophy winner.

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