Adam Wilson was hired to lead the NMU Women's Wrestling program in May 2025.
In his first season, the Wildcats made tremedous strides under his leadership. Three wrestlers (Alissa Caltagirone - 2nd, Abbie Miles - 2nd, and Sophia Bassino - 3rd) advanced to the NCAA Championships, with all three finshing in the top-3 in the region. The team placed 4th of 18 teams at that Regional Qualifier. Five wrestlers were named to the All-GLVC Teams and five were honored as NWCA Scholar All-Americans. Wilson also coached Bassino to a Pan American Championships silver medal and a spot on the U20 World Team representing Brazil, as well as guiding Caltagirone to a 5th place finish at the US Open and a qualifier for the Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament.
Bringing vast knowledge and experience in the sport that dates back to his time as a student-athlete, Wilson spent the previous four years at Albion College in southern Michigan, where he served as the Director of Wrestling and Head Women's Wrestling Coach.
While at Albion, Wilson led the reinstatement of Men's Wrestling after a 40-year gap in sport sponsorship, as well as leading the establishment of the Women's Wrestling program in 2020. Initially named the Head Men's and Head Women's Coach, he was promoted to the Director of Wrestling and Head Women's Coach in 2024.
Between his time guiding the men's and women's programs, he coached 10 First Team All-Conference wrestlers, 32 NWCA Scholar All-Americans, 41 regional placewinners, and 18 national qualifiers.
Since June of 2016, he has also served as the National Teams Director for Michigan USA Wrestling. Elected to the Michigan USA Wrestling Executive Board, Wilson is responsible for oversight of the 14U (Boys/Girls), 16U (Boys/Girls), Junior (Boys/Girls) National Teams, equating to oversight of over 250 athletes annually. In that position, he is directly responsible for setting team selection procedures, creating National Team competition and training schedules, and appointing coaching staffs for each division.
From 2016-20, he was the Head Assistant Wrestling Coach at Olivet College. Before that, he had also spent time on the coaching staffs at Trine University and Washington and Lee University.
Wilson brings valuable experience of coaching a sport he played collegiately, as he wrestled at Olivet College from 2007-11. A four-year varsity letter winner and two-time captain, he was a two-time Mid States Conference Champion, a three-time NCAA Midwest Regional place winner, a member of the 2011 NCAA Midwest Regional Championship team, and a member of the 2009 NWCA Scholar All-American Team that earned a 9th place finish.
His career awards and certifications include:
- National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) - Leadership Academy Graduate
- USA Wrestling Bronze Certification
- Virginia USA Wrestling "Person of the Year"
- Induction into Harper Creek High School Athletic Hall of Fame
Wilson graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science from Olivet College in 2011 and a Master's of Higher Education Administration from Upper Iowa in 2014. He also has experience in higher education teaching from Olivet College, which includes instruction in Health and Human Performance.
