ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Cliff Keen Wrestling Club’s Alex Dieringer will transition to the club’s coaching staff, the CKWC announced on Wednesday (Oct. 9). Dieringer, a Hodge Trophy winner and three-time NCAA champion, officially retired from competition at the U.S. World Team Trials last month. He has been a part of the CKWC since 2020.
“Alex had a phenomenal wrestling career, ranking as one of the nation’s best freestyle wrestlers over the last decade and with a college career among the best in the history of the sport,” said Michigan head coach Sean Bormet. “We are incredibly proud to have been part of his wrestling journey and have him involved with our programs over the last four years. Beyond his competitive ability, Alex is great mentor and teacher and just a total class act. We are very excited to keep him here in Ann Arbor as he moves into full-time coaching and transitions to this next phase of his career.”
“I realized immediately after I moved to Ann Arbor in 2020 just how special this place was,” said Dieringer. “Everyone made me feel at home from the jump. I’ve been a big fan of Sean Bormet since was my junior world team coach in 2013. I just loved his energy and how he carried himself. And it was an absolute honor to have been coached these last four years by a living legend like Sergei Beloglazov. I put all my trust in the CKWC, and they certainly did not disappoint. It wasn’t always easy with some injuries, but they were there every step of the way to help pick me up when I was down. I appreciate them more than they know.
“I’ve known for a long time that I’ve wanted to coach after my competitive career ended. I’m really looking forward to this next chapter in my life. I want to pour everything I have into the next generation of wrestlers, and what better place to do it than at the University of Michigan and with the Cliff Keen Wrestling Club? It’s more than a job when you love the people you are around. I will do everything I can to help our athletes to achieve their goals. Let’s get to work!”
A seven-year member of the U.S. National Freestyle Team since his college graduation, Dieringer excelled both domestically and internationally at the senior level, capturing medals at the Bill Farrell, Yarygin Grand Prix, Matteo Pellicone International, Yasar Dogu, Medved International and Dan Kolov tournaments, including gold at the latter three events as recently as last spring. Dieringer captured U.S. Open freestyle titles at 79kg (2019) and 86kg (2023) and placed top four at the 2016 and 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. He is a two-time Junior World Team member (2012, ’13), capturing 74 kg world silver in 2013.
Dieringer served as Myles Amine’s training partner at two Olympic Games and helped Amine to an 86kg bronze medal in Tokyo. He has spent the last two years as Michigan’s recruiting and video coordinator, working with the Wolverine coaching staff in identifying and evaluating prospects, assisting with recruiting communication and on-campus visits as well as helping manage and break down Michigan match film. Prior to his role as recruiting coordinator, Dieringer also assisted with coaching the Wolverines’ unattached athletes at opener tournaments.
Dieringer captured three NCAA titles during his career at Oklahoma State (2013-16), winning at 157 pounds as a sophomore (2014) before claiming back-to-back 165-pound titles in 2015 and 2016. Following his senior season, he was awarded the Dan Hodge Trophy, presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate wrestler. He was a four-time NCAA All-American, taking third place at 157 pounds as a freshman (2013).
He compiled a stellar 133-4 record in college, including a perfect 66-0 mark over his last two seasons, and earned bonus points in more than 70 percent of his wins with 45 career falls. He was a four-time Big 12 champion, becoming just the seventh wrestler in Cowboy program history to win four conference titles, and in 2016, was named Oklahoma State’s Male Athlete of the Year.
