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One of the most experienced coaches on the Nebraska staff, Tony Ersland enters his eighth year as an assistant coach after gaining experience in the Big Ten, Big 12 and Mid-American Conferences in his 14-year coaching career.
The NU wrestling squad has racked up a solid 90-39-2 dual record with Ersland on the staff. Primarily working with NU’s upper weights, Ersland helped guide the Huskers to an 11-6-0 dual mark in 2012-13. He helped guide seven wrestlers to the 2013 NCAA Championships where the team finished 13th.
Over the last six seasons, he aided 197-pounder Craig Brester to claim All-America honors and also led Tucker Lane in his quest to become one of the best heavyweights in the country. Lane was a four-time NCAA qualifier, while Ersland also helped 184-pounder Josh Ihnen qualify for four-straight NCAA tournaments.
Ersland came to Nebraska after serving as an assistant wrestling coach for the Cyclone Wrestling Club in 2005-06. From 2000 to 2005, Ersland was the head assistant coach at Northwestern. He was also an assistant coach at Northern Illinois for one season and began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Central Michigan.
Ersland turned to coaching after an illustrious competitive career at Iowa. A four-time letterwinner from 1994 to 1997, Ersland helped the Hawkeyes to four national championships and four Big Ten Conference team titles.
A 1997 NCAA qualifier, Ersland was also accomplished in the classroom as a four-time academic All-Big Ten honoree and the 1997 winner of the J. Donald McPike award, given to the Hawkeye senior wrestler who had the highest grade-point average. Ersland graduated from Iowa in 1997 with a degree in psychology, and later earned a master’s degree in athletic administration from Central Michigan. Ersland and his wife, Carolyn, have twin sons, Mason and Jaxon.
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