Collin Purinton enters his third season as the assistant men's wrestling coach.
During the 2024-2025 season, the Cougars improved to 6-11 with wins over Newman University, Concordia-Moorhead, Belmont Abbey, Drury, Ouachita Baptist, and Southwest Minnesota State. In the classroom, the Cougars saw 7 student-athletes named as NWCA All-Americans.
During the inaugural NCAA Division II season, the Cougars sent #10 Beau Klingensmith-133 to the NCAA National Championships as it's first NCAA Qualifier in program history. In dual settings, USF went 2-12 with wins over Minnesota West Community & Technical College and Ouachita Baptist.
Purinton comes to USF following an outstanding collegiate and senior wrestling career. Prior to Sioux Falls, he spent the last three years as a senior athlete training out of the Nebraska Wrestling Training Center in Lincoln, Nebraska while also coaching a high school club wrestling team. In 2022, Purinton claimed a 3rd place finish in the US Open Wrestling Championships followed by a 6th place finish in 2023.
Before beginning his senior career, Purinton was an All-American athlete at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He ended his career as an NCAA Qualifier and All-American along with an overall record of 52-35 while being named to the Big Ten All-Academic team. Purinton was also a four-time Nebraska Scholar Athlete for the Huskers. In 2020, he earned his bachelor's degree in nutrition, exercise and health science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Updated: 6/2025
