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Adam Richards

Adam Richards was named Illinois Wesleyan's interim head men's and women's wrestling coach in September of 2024 after serving one season as the assistant coach.

In his first year at the helm for IWU, Richards led the men’s program to its first win in dual competition, taking a 43-12 win over Concordia Wisconsin at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Dual Championships in 2025. 

On the women's side, in its first full season of competition, Richards coached Sifa Feruzi to an All-CCIW performance at the conference championships in 2025. Feruzi became the first Titan in the women’s program history to claim all-conference honors, doing so with a third-place finish at 180 pounds.

During his first year as an assistant coach at IWU, Richards helped coach the Titans to a tenth-place finish at the 2023-24 CCIW Championships, having scored 30 points and getting one Titan on the stand with a third-place finish in the 184-pound weight class in Bobby Conroy. 

Prior to Illinois Wesleyan, Richards coached at Bloomington High School from 1998-2013, before taking a coaching position at Normal Community West High School from 2014-2023. 

Richards was named the WHOI Class AA Coach of the Year in 2006, 2012, and 2018. His coaching resume includes 19 conference titles, 12 regional titles, and 419 career dual meet victories. Richards’ teams have advanced to the Team State Finals three times with a third-place podium finish in 2012. Additionally, he has coached 21 IHSA Individual state place winners, seven high school All-Americans and three high school national champions.

A 1996 graduate of Bloomington High School, Richards earned his bachelor’s degree in special education from Illinois State University in 2008. 

Richards currently resides in Hudson, Ill. with his wife Brooke, and two sons Aaden and Jayce. 

Men's Wrestling Dual Coaching Record
Year Overall CCIW Championships
2024-25 1-7 10th (18.5 points)

Women's Wrestling Coaching Record
Year Overall CCIW Championships
2024-25 0-1 6th (4 points)