Neil Erisman was hired as the program’s first head wrestling coach on June 20, 2018, another step in the process of adding wrestling as Little Rock's 15th intercollegiate athletic program.
Erisman was named the 2023-24 NWCA Coach of the Year and Pac-12 Coach of the Year after leading Little Rock to multiple milestones. The team tripled their dual wins year-over-year and broke into the NWCA top 25 poll for the first time in school history, finishing as #18 in the nation as a team. The Trojans finished as Pac-12 runners-up for the first time as well. In addition, five Little Rock wrestlers made the National Tournament and the program claimed its first two All-Americans and placers in Nasir Bailey and Stephen Little.
In just his second year as head coach, Erisman helped the program collect their first National qualifier: Paul Bianchi. Bianchi advanced to the second day of competition at the 2021 NCAA Championships.
Erisman brings to Little Rock an impressive career both as a competitor and coach at the Division I level, encompassing two of the nation’s top programs in Oklahoma State and North Carolina. During his coaching career, Erisman has mentored 20 NCAA All-Americans and four NCAA individual champions.
Erisman has spent the past four seasons at the University of North Carolina where he has played a key role in helping the Tar Heels improve on the national stage. In his four seasons in Chapel Hill, Erisman has helped guide UNC to an overall record of 41-28, finishing third in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2015-16 and 2017-18.
During his time in Chapel Hill, Erisman has mentored four ACC individual champions and four NCAA All-Americans, highlighted by the 2017-18 season when Troy Heilmann (149) and Ethan Ramos (174) both claimed ACC titles. Heilmann then went on to place fourth in the NCAA Championships in Cleveland with Chip Ness (184) placing seventh, earning the duo All-America honors as the Tar Heels tied for 20th, their highest finish since placing eighth in 1995.
The Tar Heels also produced a pair of ACC champions in 2015-16 in Evan Henderson (149) and Ethan Ramos (174) with Joey Ward finishing seventh in the NCAA championships at 141. In his first season in Chapel Hill, Erisman worked closely with Ethan Ramos, who finished second in the ACC at 165 before placing sixth at NCAAs.
Additionally, Erisman earned a reputation as a top recruiter, helping North Carolina post top-10 recruiting classes in his first three seasons.
Prior to his time in Chapel Hill, Erisman spent one season as the assistant wrestling coach at Stillwater High School in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He helped guide the Pioneers to the 2014 Oklahoma 6A state championship while also being named the 2014 Oklahoma High School National Team Coach.
Erisman’s coaching career began at his alma mater, serving as a graduate assistant coach at Oklahoma State from 2011-13 under legendary coach John Smith. One of his main priorities was helping with the development of the Cowboys’ freshman wrestlers while helping continue the tradition of Oklahoma State wrestling.
During his two years as a graduate assistant, OSU placed sixth at the 2012 NCAA Championships, followed by a Big 12 championship in 2013 while finishing second at the 2013 NCAA Championships.
Erisman put together a stellar collegiate career in Stillwater, compiling an overall record of 92-36 and was a four year letterwinner for the Cowboys from 2007-11 under coach Smith. He was the 2011 Big 12 Champion at 157 pounds after placing second in 2010 and third in 2009, being named an Academic All-Big 12 selection in 2008.
A native of DeSoto, Kansas, Erisman compiled a 150-5 prep record at DeSoto High School and was both a state and cadet national champion. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Oklahoma State in 2011.
He and his wife, Kelli, have five children.
THE ERISMAN FILE
PERSONAL
Hometown: DeSoto, Kansas
College: Oklahoma State, 2011
WRESTLING EXPERIENCE
2007-11: Oklahoma State
92-36 career dual meet record and 2011 Big 12 champion at 157
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2011-13: Oklahoma State (Graduate Assistant)
2013-14: Stillwater (Okla.) High School (Assistant Coach)
2014-18: North Carolina (Assistant Coach)
2018-Present: Little Rock (Head Coach)
