Russ Hellickson

May 29, 1948 - Present

One of wrestling's dominant figures for two decades, Russ Hellickson ruled the nation's light heavyweights through the 1970s and continued to shine as a coach and contributor to the sport.

A three-sport high school star, and a consistent winner at the University of Wisconsin, he burst into national and international prominence after graduation in 1970. He won 12 national Freestyle championships and one Greco-Roman, captured silver and bronze medals and a fourth place in the Worlds, won the Tbilisi International and the World Cup, and was the first wrestler to win three gold medals in the Pan Am Games.

Thwarted by injury in 1972, he won the silver medal in the 1976 Olympic Games, battling defending champion Ivan Yarygin of the Soviet Union in a 19-13 spellbinder. Russ was captain of the 1980 Olympic Freestyle team, stalled by the boycott.

During those 12 years, he was assistant coach at Wisconsin, where he became head coach in 1982. After four successful seasons, he moved to Ohio State. In all, he has produced more than 150 victories, five NCAA champions and two dozen All-Americans.

Russ and his wife, Nancy, founded The Crossface, Wisconsin's state wrestling newspaper, and they were honored together nationally as writers of the year in 1974 and as state editors of the year in 1976. Hellickson served on USA Wrestling's board of directors, as president of the independent clubs, as Freestyle sport chairman and as a member of the national coaching staff. He was Junior World coach twice.

His coach's talk show and production of instructional and motivational videos led to a new career as a television commentator. He was the voice of wrestling for ABC at the 1984 Olympics, for TBS at the '86 and '90 Goodwill Games, and for NBC at the 1988, '92 and '96 Olympics.

One of wrestling's most versatile and productive figures, Russell Owen Hellickson is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Awards:

Year
1989
Award
Distinguished Member
Chapter/Region
National
Year
1974
Award
Bob Dellinger Media Award
Chapter/Region
National

All Coaching Dual Records:

Season
2006
School
Ohio State
Division
Division I
Duals
18
Wins
5
Losses
13
Ties
0
Win PCT.
27.78
Season
2005
School
Ohio State
Division
Division I
Duals
19
Wins
8
Losses
11
Ties
0
Win PCT.
42.11
Season
2004
School
Ohio State
Division
Division I
Duals
19
Wins
8
Losses
11
Ties
0
Win PCT.
42.11
Season
2003
School
Ohio State
Division
Division I
Duals
19
Wins
12
Losses
7
Ties
0
Win PCT.
63.16
Season
2002
School
Ohio State
Division
Division I
Duals
24
Wins
20
Losses
4
Ties
0
Win PCT.
83.33
Season
2001
School
Ohio State
Division
Division I
Duals
21
Wins
15
Losses
6
Ties
0
Win PCT.
71.43
Season
2000
School
Ohio State
Division
Division I
Duals
18
Wins
9
Losses
9
Ties
0
Win PCT.
50
Season
1999
School
Ohio State
Division
Division I
Duals
21
Wins
10
Losses
10
Ties
1
Win PCT.
47.62
Season
1998
School
Ohio State
Division
Division I
Duals
24
Wins
10
Losses
13
Ties
1
Win PCT.
41.67
Season
1997
School
Ohio State
Division
Division I
Duals
22
Wins
10
Losses
12
Ties
0
Win PCT.
45.45
Season
1996
School
Ohio State
Division
Division I
Duals
23
Wins
13
Losses
9
Ties
1
Win PCT.
56.52
Season
1995
School
Ohio State
Division
Division I
Duals
26
Wins
16
Losses
10
Ties
0
Win PCT.
61.54
Season
1994
School
Ohio State
Division
Division I
Duals
27
Wins
15
Losses
11
Ties
1
Win PCT.
55.56
Season
1993
School
Ohio State
Division
Division I
Duals
23
Wins
17
Losses
6
Ties
0
Win PCT.
73.91
Season
1992
School
Ohio State
Division
Division I
Duals
24
Wins
20
Losses
4
Ties
0
Win PCT.
83.33
Season
1991
School
Ohio State
Division
Division I
Duals
21
Wins
17
Losses
4
Ties
0
Win PCT.
80.95
Season
1990
School
Ohio State
Division
Division I
Duals
25
Wins
20
Losses
5
Ties
0
Win PCT.
80
Season
1989
School
Ohio State
Division
Division I
Duals
30
Wins
18
Losses
10
Ties
2
Win PCT.
60
Season
1988
School
Ohio State
Division
Division I
Duals
22
Wins
16
Losses
6
Ties
0
Win PCT.
72.73
Season
1987
School
Ohio State
Division
Division I
Duals
22
Wins
13
Losses
9
Ties
0
Win PCT.
59.09
Season
1986
School
Wisconsin
Division
Division I
Duals
25
Wins
19
Losses
5
Ties
1
Win PCT.
76
Season
1985
School
Wisconsin
Division
Division I
Duals
25
Wins
21
Losses
4
Ties
0
Win PCT.
84
Season
1984
School
Wisconsin
Division
Division I
Duals
28
Wins
22
Losses
6
Ties
0
Win PCT.
78.57
Season
1983
School
Wisconsin
Division
Division I
Duals
14
Wins
7
Losses
7
Ties
0
Win PCT.
50
Season
1982
School
Wisconsin
Division
Division I
Duals
14
Wins
8
Losses
5
Ties
1
Win PCT.
57.14
Season
Career
Duals
554
Wins
349
Losses
197
Ties
8
Win PCT.
63

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