Ed Ruth enters his first season as an assistant coach with the Illini wrestling staff, joining head coach Mike Poeta in his first year at the helm of the program. Ruth, a native of Harrisburg, Pa., comes to Champaign following several years as a professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter.

Ruth wrestled collegiately at Penn State from 2010-2014, where he was a three-time NCAA champion and four-time Big Ten champion at 184-pounds. He also garnered an impressive 136-3 overall record during his career as a Nittany Lion.

Following his time in State College, Ruth was a representative for team USA at the 2014 World Wrestling Championships and was also a Silver Medalist at the 2015 USA World Team Trials before becoming a professional MMA fighter.