Bolyard Elevated to Assistant Wrestling Coach
7/17/2023 1:14:00 PM | Wrestling
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan wrestling head coach Sean Bormet announced the promotion of David Bolyard, who spent the last five seasons as the Wolverines' volunteer coach, to a full assistant coach on Monday (July 17). The promotion followed the NCAA Division I Council's coaching limit increase that went into effect on July 1.
"Dave has been an absolutely instrumental part of our program's success over my first five years as head coach," said Bormet. "He is an athlete's coach, who understands the important balance of holding them accountable and building a deep connection with them -- I think this is paramount in our sport -- and our guys really respect his tremendous knowledge and wrestling IQ. Dave also brings a unique perspective with his previous experience as a head coach of a mid-major; he really knows how to create and build, which is so important in the changing NCAA landscape. With the new rules, I'm excited for Dave to be able to expand his recruiting role -- he's a great representative of our program -- and I just can't say enough about how much I appreciate and enjoy the coaching staff we have here at Michigan."
"I am really grateful to be a part of the University of Michigan's wrestling program," said Bolyard. "I'm proud of what our program has accomplished over the last five years and the relationships that I've built with our staff, athletes and alumni. I'm also very excited about the direction the program is headed and look forward to building on what we've done over these last five years."
Michigan has posted a 48-13 dual record since Bolyard joined the Michigan staff in July 2018 under the newly-promoted Bormet. The Wolverines posted three straight top-five NCAA finishes, including a runner-up finish in 2022, and captured the 2022 Big Ten title -- the program's first in nearly 50 years. U-M has crowned an individual NCAA champion in each of the last two seasons with Nick Suriano (125 pounds, 2022) and Hodge Trophy winner Mason Parris (heavyweight, 2023) and boasted 16 NCAA All-Americans -- as well as four NWCA All-Americans after the Covid-canceled 2020 NCAA Championships.
Bolyard joined the Wolverine program after four years as head coach at Eastern Michigan (2015-18). Named the 2017-18 MAC Coach of the Year, Bolyard coached the Eagles to one of the most successful seasons in school history before the program was cut three days after the 2018 NCAA tournament. EMU placed third at the 2018 MAC Championships, sending four wrestlers to the finals and tying a program record with five NCAA qualifiers. Sa'Derian Perry became the fifth NCAA All-American in program history and first since 1999.
His teams were also successful in the classroom, placing 11th or better in the NWCA All-Academic standings in each of his four seasons, including a first-place finish in 2015. The Eagles boasted 24 Academic All-MAC team members while six earned NWCA All-Academic honors over his tenure.
Bolyard also spent seven seasons as the Eagles' top assistant before taking the head job and two as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Central Michigan.
During a standout collegiate career at CMU (2002-05), Bolyard claimed NCAA All-America honors in 2004 after placing sixth at 165 pounds and was a four-time NCAA qualifier. A 2005 MAC champion, he posted a 109-38 career record and still ranks 10th among CMU's all-time wins leaders.
Players Mentioned
