Gordon Returns To AU As Head Wrestling Coach

A familiar name to Ashland University wrestling is returning to guide the Eagle program.
 
As announced by Director of Athletics Al King on Tuesday (Aug. 18), former AU wrestler and assistant coach Marcus Gordon has been named the 11^th head coach in the history of Ashland grappling.
 
"I'm excited to welcome Marcus back to campus," King said. "He understands Ashland University, what kind of student-athlete fits here and is committed to the development of his team academically, socially and athletically. Marcus is an experienced coach who knows what it takes to direct a program. That's what he's being asked to do, develop an overall program that's successful in every facet."
 
"You couldn't really draw it up any better," Gordon said. "Circle all the way back here and be close to family, my kids can see their grandparents, and my wife's family is here, as well. It's going to be fun.
 
"It's easy to say we want to bring back at national title trophy. My goal is to take 10 guys to the national championship and bring back hardware. You expect greatness every time you go out there, but you're going to have your ups and downs and injuries. I know it can be done. It can be done here, for sure."
 
Gordon takes over a program which has won five Great Midwest Athletic Conference championships in six seasons in the league for then-head coach Colt Sponseller.
 
"Wrestling's wrestling," said Gordon. "It's whoever we have to wrestle, we wrestle. I definitely want to wrestle not just our conference, but some of the best guys out there, so, come March, we're ready to go."
 
Gordon served as the head coach at Bloomsburg, which is NCAA Division I in wrestling and an associate member of the Mid-American Conference, from 2016-24. That followed a stint as the assistant coach for the Huskies from 2013-16.
 
While at Bloomsburg, his charges were ranked eighth in D-I in team grade-point average in 2020-21.
 
His name in north central Ohio wrestling first came as a prep standout at nearby Mapleton High School, then as an AU grappler and wrestling assistant coach from 2008-13. As a Mountie, Gordon was a two-time Ohio state champion, three-time state finalist, four-time state placer and the MVP of the state meet.
 
Gordon boasts the eighth-most takedowns in Ohio prep wrestling with 866.
 
After starting his collegiate wrestling career as a two-year starter at Eastern Michigan, Gordon finished his time on the collegiate mats as a four-year starter overall, a two-time NCAA national qualifier and a two-time National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Academic All-American.
 
While an Eagle assistant, the team placed in the top 20 in NCAA Division II three times in a row – 20^th in 2011, 13^th in 2012 and tied for 15^th in 2013. He was the recruiting coordinator for some of the top classes in D-II, including the one ranked as the best in 2009.
 
Gordon's assistant stint with AU ended with nine All-Americans, 26 national qualifiers and 25 NWCA Academic All-American honors.
 
"Marcus has been successful here as a student-athlete and assistant coach," said King. "He was a phenomenal recruiter working under Tim Dernlan. He knows Ohio. Anyone who's been around him is familiar with his blue-collar work ethic. That's one of the prime factors that played in his candidacy, that drive to excel and make Ashland Wrestling better."
 
As for recruiting moving forward, Gordon said, "Obviously, you want to keep any local boy, keep them here. At the end of the day, we want the best kids, and when it comes to recruiting, one of the big things is if you don't own your state, you're not going to win.
 
"Wrestling's very good in Ohio, so we don't need to go far."
 
Gordon is a member of the Ashland County Sports Hall of Fame, having gone into the Hall in the 2024 class.