 One National Champion (Lucas Byrd '25) |
 Three All-Americans |
 Two Big Ten Individual Champions (Ruth '24, Byrd '25) |
 20 NCAA Championships Qualifiers |
Mike Poeta, who established himself as one of Illinois's all-time greatest wrestlers and top assistant coaches in the nation as a member of the Fighting Illini staff, was named head wrestling coach in April 2021.
His fourth year (2024-25) was highlighted by leading Lucas Byrd to the top of the podium at the NCAA Championships and Big Ten Championships at 133 pounds. Byrd is the 21st Fighting Illini wrestler to win a national championship and earned the program's 25th individual national title; he's also the first NCAA Champion at Illinois since 2016 and first ever in the 133 pound weight class. With his Big Ten title he became the program's 79th Big Ten Champion and the second ever at 133 pounds. Byrd is the 12th wrestler in program history to win both the Big Ten and NCAA titles in the same season. Poeta led Illinois to finish 10th as a team at the NCAA Championships which is their highest finish in nine years since the 2015-16 season where they also took 10th.
In addition to Byrd, Poeta guided seven other wrestlers to qualify to the NCAA Championships, the most the program has sent since 2020: Danny Pucino, Kannon Webster, Braeden Scoles, Danny Braunagel, Edmond Ruth, Zac Braunagel and Luke Luffman. Webster earned silver at the Big Ten Championships to become the first Illinois redshirt freshman to place that high in seven years (Mike Carr, 2018). A trio of his wrestlers won the consolation ladder to earn bronze at the conference meet being D. Braunagel, Ruth and Z. Braunagel. Scoles finished in fifth place while Luffman placed sixth at the B1G Championships.
During the 2023-24 season he coached Ruth to All-American status and a Big Ten Champion at 174 pounds. Ruth's the fifth All-American and first ever Big Ten Champion in school history at the weight class (all previous champions were 175 pounds). He led two more wrestlers to their first NCAA Championships in Pucino and Chris Moore. Moore became the first true freshman to qualify to the national meet since Travis Piotrowski in 2017.
In Poeta's sophomore campaign at the helm (2022-23) he coached five wrestlers to the NCAA Championships: Byrd, D. Braunagel, Ruth, Dylan Connell and Z. Braunagel. Raising his total to nine NCAA Championships qualifiers across his first two seasons.
His rookie season as the head coach he assisted Byrd to All-American status at 133 pounds. He became the 40th wrestler in program history to claim multiple All-America honors and extended Illinois' All-American streak to 30 straight seasons. Poeta's initial NCAA Championships qualifying class was rounded out by Justin Cardani, Z. Braunagel and Luffman.
Poeta was an Illinois assistant coach for five years prior to being named head coach. Previously he spent five years as the owner and head coach of the Poeta Training Center in Lake Forest, Illinois. Poeta was a member of Illinois' 2005 Big Ten title team and earned three All-America honors and two Big Ten titles.
During its inaugural year, Team Poeta grew from 40 wrestlers to 200 wrestlers. Since then, the training center has produced 19 high school and junior high state champions.
As the former owner of the team and training center, Mike Poeta brings both administrative and coaching experience to the Illinois staff. Financially, Poeta managed the clubs’ budget and the payroll for its 10 assistant coaches, while also directing fundraising events for non-profit organizations that benefit young wrestlers in the Chicago area. Additionally, Poeta has built strong connections with some of the top high school athletes and coaches in the state of the Illinois through various recruiting combines and clinics.
Prior to creating the Poeta Training Center, Mike Poeta spent three years wrestling professionally. In 2010, Poeta represented the United States at the 2010 World Cup in Moscow, Russia. Two years later, Poeta competed at 2012 Olympic Trials.
A 157-pounder from 2004-2008 for the Illini, Poeta became one of the most successful wrestlers in Fighting Illini history and was a member of Illinois’ 2005 Big Ten championship team. Individually, Poeta was a three-time All-American, two-time NCAA finalist and two-time Big Ten champion. Poeta left Illinois ranked second all-time in win percentage and 15th in career wins, and currently ranks third and 22nd in those categories. Poeta graduated from the College of Applied Health Sciences with a bachelor’s degree in community health in 2009.
A native of Highwood, Illinois, Poeta was rated the No. 1 pound-for-pound high school recruit in 2004 after winning three High School National Championships and two IHSA state championships.
Poeta resides in Champaign with his wife, Callie, and four kids: Rylan, Makenna, Nico and Regan
