Jordan Burroughs

Olympic Gold Medalist Jordan Burroughs finished his first season as an assistant coach for the Huskers in 2014-15. He previously served on the Nebraska wrestling staff as an administrative assistant for the 2012-13 season.

During his first season, Burroughs helped guide three Huskers to All-America accolades as Nebraska finished ninth as a team at the 2015 NCAA Championships. Individually, James Green and Robert Kokesh each collected third-place finishes, while TJ Dudley notched an eighth-place result. NU went 14-1 in the dual season, which marked the best winning percentage (.933) in school history.

Burroughs is coaching Nebraska in the midst of one of the most successful international freestyle wrestling careers in U.S. history. In addition to claiming the 74-kilogram Olympic Gold Medal at the 2012 Games in London, England, Burroughs won a pair of FILA World Championships in 2011 and 2013. He is also the three-time defending U.S. Open champion and two-time reigning World Cup champion.

Burroughs has earned several other titles during his post-collegiate career, including the 2011 and 2013 Pan American Championships, 2011 U.S. World Team Trials, 2012 Olympic Trials, 2013 Alexander Medved Championships and 2013 Stephan Sargsyan Championships. In addition, he won his first 69 matches on the senior circuit.

Following the IOC’s initial recommendation to drop wrestling from the Olympics in February 2013, Burroughs became a key advocate to keeping the sport in the Games. In September 2013, the decision was overturned and wrestling will remain in the Olympics.

In 2011, Burroughs completed his decorated collegiate career with a second national title and claimed the Hodge Trophy Award. He went 36-0 as a senior at 165 pounds and also captured 2011 InterMat Wrestler-of-the-Year honors.

Burroughs’ first NCAA crown came in 2009, when he posted a perfect 35-0 record at 157 pounds. In 2009-10, his season was cut short by a torn PCL and LCL after racing to a 7-0 start.

The three-time All-American finished third at the 2008 NCAA Championships with a 34-6 record. He won a Big 12 title during the same season and added conference crowns in 2009 and 2011. Burroughs completed his college career with a 128-20 record, the fourth-most victories in school history. He also holds the fifth-best career winning percentage in Nebraska history at .865.

A native of Sicklerville, N.J., Burroughs graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in sociology in May 2011. He and his wife Lauren were married on Oct. 12, 2013. They have a son, Beacon, who was born on July 19, 2014.