Manning Joins Olympic Freestyle Wrestling Staff

Nebraska Wrestling Coach Mark Manning was named a volunteer Olympic coach for men's freestyle at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England on Wednesday.

"Coaching this team is a great privilege," Manning said. "I've been involved with USA Wrestling for quite some time, and I'm really looking forward to helping each athlete reach their goals and win a lot of medals in London."

Manning, along with Lou Rosselli of Columbus, Ohio, and John Smith of Stillwater, Okla., will serve as volunteer coaches alongside National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones of Colorado Springs, Colo. Additional men's freestyle Olympic coaches will be named in the near future.

"We have a great staff. We are very fortunate to have John Smith, Mark Manning and Lou Rosselli. They bring a lot of experience and ability to the table," Jones said. "Mark Manning has put 30 years of time into this program. He deserves to be Olympic coach. He brings a lot of knowledge over time, and he brings Jordan Burroughs, who is perhaps the best wrestler in the world today."

The 2012 Olympics mark the third time Manning has coached an Olympic team as he served on the staff in 1996 and 2000. Manning helped coach the 2011 U.S. World Team, which took third place at the World Championships and produced two medalists.  He was also a part of the 2009 U.S. World Team coaching staff, where he helped lead the team to a seventh place finish. Additionally, Manning was the head coach for the 2001 U.S. Freestyle World Team, head coach of the 1994 and 1996 Junior World teams and helped guide the United States to a team title at the 2000 Pan American Championships.

While coaching for Nebraska, Manning has guided the Huskers to five top-eight NCAA finishes in 12 seasons. He led the Huskers to their first Big 12 Championship in 2009, earning Big 12 Coach-of-the-Year honors in 2008 and 2009. Additionally, Manning has coached 30 All-Americans and four individual NCAA Champions.

Manning, Rosselli and Smith are pending final approval of the U.S. Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer.