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Ersland Announces Staff Updates, Hiring of Collin PurintonErsland Announces Staff Updates, Hiring of Collin Purinton
Quan Nguyen/Purdue Athletics

Head coach Tony Ersland (right) and head assistant coach Jake Sueflohn (left)

Ersland Announces Staff Updates, Hiring of Collin Purinton

Head coach Tony Ersland unveils an updated Purdue staff for the 2026-27 wrestling season.

by Brook Weber

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue wrestling head coach Tony Ersland announced the addition of Collin Purinton as an assistant coach along with changes to the Boilermakers’ staff on Thursday.

Following the departure of former coach Leroy Vega, Ersland has elevated longtime assistant Jake Sueflohn to the role of head assistant coach. Brian Anderson and Matt Ramos will swap titles while maintaining key developmental roles with the wrestling program.

Photo courtesy of Trish SextonPhoto courtesy of Trish Sexton

"With all the movement on this year’s staff, we’ve accomplished a number of things that we believe will help our team be set up to accomplish our goals. I think we’ve reconfigured our staff in a very positive way to help us grow, be better and still reward people for the hard work they’ve put in here."

- Coach Ersland
COLLIN PURINTON

COLLIN PURINTON

Purinton joins Purdue after spending the 2025-26 season as an assistant coach at North Dakota State, where he helped guide five Bison wrestlers to podium finishes at the Big 12 Championships. All five qualified for the NCAA Championships in Cleveland.

Before his time in Fargo, Purinton worked two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Sioux Falls, helping launch the wrestling program in its inaugural 2023-24 season. In year one, he coached Beau Klingensmith to the team’s first NCAA Championships berth. Klingensmith earned the No. 10 seed at 133 pounds.

Purinton also spent three seasons coaching at the high school level while training at the Nebraska Wrestling Training Center in Lincoln. His senior-level career included a third-place finish at the 2022 U.S. Open Championships and a sixth-place finish in 2023.

A native of Banks, Oregon, Purinton wrestled at Nebraska from 2015-20, compiling a 52-35 career record. He was a 2020 NWCA Second Team All-American and NCAA Championships qualifier, as well as a four-time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete and 2020 Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

Ersland was involved in recruiting Purinton to Nebraska during his time as an assistant coach with the Cornhuskers before taking over the Purdue program in 2014.

Photo courtesy of North Dakota State

"Collin Purinton fits a need for us in the middle weights, being a former All-American at 149 pounds. A smart, responsible guy who’s very hard-working. We really trust what Collin is about, the hard work and the skillset that he brings."

- Coach Ersland
Wrestling vs Penn StateCollin Purinton was a 2020 NWCA Second Team All-American and four-time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll member. (Photo courtesy of Nebraska Athletics)
BRIAN ANDERSON

BRIAN ANDERSON

Anderson, Purdue’s director of player personnel since April 2025, will transition to an assistant coach role in which he will specialize in developing the Boilermakers’ upper weights. Anderson previously served as the head coach at Wabash College from 2004-23, building the Little Giants into one of the nation’s premier NCAA Division III wrestling programs.

Photo Courtesy of Trish Sexton

"Brian in a very short amount of time has proven his value and worth as somebody who’s been a head coach at a high level and produced some great wrestlers. His impact in the room can now be felt in a different way as a coach. Continuing to draw on his vast experience over the years is going to be great for our program."

- Coach Ersland
MATT RAMOS

MATT RAMOS

Ramos, the two-time All-American who graduated from Purdue in 2025, will swap roles with Anderson as the new director of player personnel. Ramos spent last season as an assistant coach for the Boilermakers and will continue working with the program while training with the Boilermaker Regional Training Center in preparation for the 2028 Olympic Games.

His new role grants the former Selling & Sales Management major an opportunity to serve as a leader of the Boilermaker RTC, Purdue's wrestling development program.

Photo courtesy of Quan Nguyen/Purdue Athletics

"Moving Matt to the director of player personnel position is going to allow him a bit more flexibility to train and pursue his goals of the 2028 Olympics and World Championships. I’m excited to have him in a role that allows him to chase his goals while still making an impact in a very positive way for Purdue Wrestling."

- Coach Ersland
JAKE SUEFLOHN

JAKE SUEFLOHN

Sueflohn will take on the role of head assistant coach as the longest-tenured member of Ersland’s staff. The former Nebraska wrestler has been an integral part of the Purdue program, helping produce two national finalists, 10 All-Americans, 59 NCAA qualifiers and 54 Big Ten placewinners over the past 10 seasons.

Photo Courtesy of Trish Sexton

"Jake understands our system, the kinds of kids who do really well and prosper here and knows the attitudes I look for in recruiting. I really lean on Jake and his experience with the team. He’s a great leader."

- Coach Ersland

The annual preseason Wrestle-Offs are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, at 2 p.m. ET inside Holloway Gymnasium.

The 107th season of Purdue wrestling will begin in West Lafayette with a dual against Kent State on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 1 p.m. It marks Purdue’s first season opener at home since Dec. 3, 1960.

Admission is free for all home Purdue wrestling events.