Jeremy Hunter was officially named the permanent head coach of Illinois (12-5, 5-3) on Thursday after serving in the role on an interim basis. Hunter succeeds Mike Poeta, who was placed on administrative leave by the University on Dec. 19, 2025.
Following his impressive collegiate career at Penn State, Hunter has been a part of the program for the past 25 years. He started as a volunteer coach in 2001, before being promoted to a full-time assistant in 2009. Over that span, he has worked under three head coaches: Mark Johnson, Jim Heffernan and Poeta.
“During his time as an assistant coach, Jeremy has played a significant role in many milestone moments for both the team and individual wrestlers,” said director of athletics Josh Whitman to Fighting Illini Athletics. “I want to thank Jeremy for his trust and commitment and look forward to partnering with him for the advancement of Fighting Illini Wrestling in the years ahead.”
Illinois boasts a longstanding tradition of success, highlighted by 19 top-25 finishes, including eight in the top 10, at the NCAA Championships. During Hunter’s time at Illinois, Illini wrestlers have earned six NCAA titles, most recently by graduate student Lucas Byrd at 133 pounds in 2025. Over that same span, 18 Illini have claimed Big Ten individual titles.
“I’ve spent my entire coaching career at the University of Illinois; this place means everything to me,” Hunter said to Fighting Illini Athletics. “And I especially want to thank our current team for their hard work and dedication during some uncertain times these last few months.”
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The team is currently preparing for the Big Ten Championships, which are scheduled for March 7-8 at Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania.
