ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Two-time Olympic and six-time world champion Sergei Beloglazov has been named the new head coach of the Cliff Keen Wrestling Club, the club announced on Friday (Aug. 31). Considered among the greatest freestyle wrestlers in the history of the sport, Beloglazov relocated to Ann Arbor from his hometown Kaliningrad, Russia, this month with his wife, Irina, and twin daughters, Kate and Sasha.
“Sergei is one of the very best competitors and wrestling minds in the history of our sport,” said University of Michigan head coach Sean Bormet. “He has a vast range of world-class international coaching experience, and his energy and enthusiasm around the mat is incredible. It’s a tremendous opportunity for everyone involved in our program to learn from him. We are thrilled to have him and his family with us in Ann Arbor.”
“I’m excited for this opportunity,” said Beloglazov, “and I’m excited to work with Sean and his coaches and athletes. Training collegiate and freestyle out of the same facility is a great concept, and the programs here at Michigan are excellent. I look forward to helping them continue their wrestling and pursue their Olympic and world dreams.”
Beloglazov ruled the freestyle bantamweight for nearly a decade, capturing two Olympic gold medals (1980, ’88) and five world titles (1981, ’83-87) at 57kg/125 pounds — he also won world gold at featherweight (62kg/136 pounds) in 1982 — after claiming silver at the 1979 World Championships. He won five World Cup titles (1979, ’80, ’81, ’83, ’86) and was a five-time European champion. Beloglazov was inducted into the UWW International Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004.
A master wrestling technician, Beloglazov has coached internationally since his retirement from competition and, among numerous positions around the world, has served as a national team coach for Japan, Russia, the United States and Kazakhstan over the last 25 years.
