Jan. 27, 2011

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - University of Illinois head coach Jim Heffernan announced Tuesday that associate head coach Carl Perry will step down from his duties with the Fighting Illini wrestling team following the 2010-11 season to become the Fellowship of Christian Athletes' National Director of FCA Wrestling. Perry has been a member of the Illinois coaching staff since the 2002-03 campaign and has been the associate head coach for the last two seasons. In his new position, Perry will coordinate the FCA Wrestling program and will work directly with wrestling coaches and student-athletes across the country.

"I would like to thank Ron Guenther, Jim Heffernan and Mark Johnson for their advice, assistance, mentoring and friendship during my time at Illinois," Perry said. "As a former Illinois wrestler, one of my goals was to coach here, and these last nine years have been great. The young men that I have worked with as a coach have led me to the next phase in my life and I am looking forward to my new position with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes where I will continue trying to impact wrestlers across the country. I have loved being at Illinois and I will always be an Illini."

Perry is a former NCAA champion, winning the title at 141 pounds in 2000, and a two-time All-American. A four-time NCAA qualifier, Perry consistently ranked among the top 10 at 141 pounds and was a two-time team captain. He finished his Illinois career in the top 20 of career wins and winning percentage with 98 victories and a .748 winning percentage. He also helped the 2000 Illini squad to the best dual winning percentage in school history (.933), as the team went 14-1 in duals that year. Perry also compiled a remarkable 13-6 career record at the NCAA Championships.

"Carl has had a very positive impact on our program during his nine years," Heffernan said. "He has developed strong relationships with our wrestlers and has always had their best interest in mind. We will miss Carl, but we know he will be successful in his new position with FCA."

Perry earned his bachelor's degree in applied life studies with an emphasis in sport management in May 2001, and will earn a master's degree in organizational leadership from Lincoln Christian University in August 2011. Perry and his wife, Jamie, have a daughter, Breanna, and a son, Bryce.