ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Two University of Michigan coaching veterans, Ryan Churella and Kevin Vogel, have rounded out the inaugural Cliff Keen Wrestling Club coaching staff, announced Monday (Sept. 19). The duo combined for 12 years of service with the Wolverine wrestling program.
Churella was with the Michigan coaching staff for four seasons, servicing as volunteer coach (2009-10), director of operations (2008-09) and video coordinator (2006-08).
As a Wolverine wrestler (2003-06), Churella was a three-time NCAA All-American and Big Ten Conference champion at 149 and 165 pounds, just the eighth Wolverine in program history to accomplish such a task. In his final season at Michigan, Churella posted a near-perfect 29-1 record and advanced to the 165-pound final at the NCAA Championships. His 117-18 career record places him sixth in the U-M record book for career winning percentage (.867) and 17th in career wins. He also ranks ninth among the all-time pin leaders with 35 career falls.
After graduating from Michigan, Churella completed a successful three-year run in the 74 kg/163-pound freestyle division, earning consecutive top-four finishes at the U.S. Senior Nationals (2008, ’09) and posting similar performances at the 2008 Olympic Trials (fourth) and 2009 World Team Trials (third). Churella also captured gold medals at the 2007 Henri Deglane Challenge and 2008 Canada Open.
Crossing two generations, the Churella family combined for 10 All-America citations during illustrious careers at Michigan. Ryan’s father, Mark Sr. (1976-79), was a three-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American, while his brother, Josh (2005-08), garnered three All-America distinctions, reaching the 149-pound finals as a junior (2007). Eldest brother, Mark Jr., earned a varsity letter at Michigan in 2001.
Originally from Northville, Mich., Churella was a Senior High School National champion (2001) and a two-time state champion at Novi High school. Churella earned his bachelor’s degree from Michigan in 2006.
Vogel served eight seasons as Michigan volunteer coach (2000-07), contributing to the Wolverines’ three straight Big Ten dual meet titles (2004, ’05, ’06) and 2005 NCAA runner-up finish. Working largely with the U-M upperweights, he mentored several All-Americans, including Otto Olson, Kyle Smith, Nick Roy and Tyrel Todd.
One of the most accomplished wrestlers in CMU history, Vogel finished his collegiate career with a 131-34-1 record, ranking him third on the Chippewas’ career wins list. Vogel holds the school records for career falls (66) and season falls with his nation-leading 28 pins in 1989-90. He won the Mid-American Conference Championship three times at 177 pounds (1989, ’90, ’92) and was twice named the MAC Tournament’s outstanding wrestler (1990, ’92). Vogel was inducted into the CMU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.
Following his graduation from Central Michigan, Vogel remained active in wrestling, winning numerous international and national-level tournaments, including the Nordvest Cup (1999), World Cup (1996), Sunkist International Open (1995) and the Henri Deglane Challenge (1994). He placed among the top four at the U.S. Nationals on four occasions (1993, ’94, ’95, ’97) and was the 1993 U.S. Olympic Festival champion.
A native of Temperance, Mich., Vogel graduated from Central Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in sports administration in 1993. He runs his own construction business, the Vogel Building Company, and was recently named head coach at his alma mater, Bedford High School. He resides in Dundee with his wife, Jessica, and daughters, Juliana and Nadya.
