Brunson joins Coach Heffernan's staff following a four-year career at Illinois that ranks among the most successful in program history. Upon graduating, Brunson ranked 16th on the Illini all-time career wins list. 

Zac Brunson capped off his 107-win career with the Illini by notching his first All-America honor at the 2017 NCAA Championships in St. Louis and finished with a career-high 32 wins on the season. Brunson qualified for the national meet in each of his four seasons.

Brunson also proved to be one of the top wrestlers in the Big Ten, showcasing his ability at the conference meet by placing at all four Big Ten Championships he competed in. Brunson placed runner-up as junior in 2016, pinning Iowa's Alex Meyer in his home arena to reach the final.

Leading the Illini in pins each of his last two seasons, Brunson nearly cracked Illinois' all-time pins list as he fell one fall short of No. 10 Troy Tirapelle who talied 20 from 2006-09. In 2017, Brunson's 0:16 pin of Braxton Cody (Northwestern) at Big Ten Championships tied the conference meet record for fastest fall.

A native of Eugene, Oregon, Brunson was a four-time state champion at Churchill High School, each coming at a different weight class. In addition to his high school success, Brunson also won a 2011 Junior Nationals title.