Michigan State University Athletics
Wrestling Adds Former Spartan Ryan Vasbinder as Assistant Coach
8/21/2026 12:58:00 PM | Wrestling
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State head wrestling coach Roger Chandler announced the addition of former Spartan heavyweight and NCAA Division II National Champion Ryan Vasbinder to the coaching staff ahead of the 2026-27 season on Friday afternoon. The MSU coaching staff is set for 2026-27 with Vasbinder joining Chandler, associate head coach Chris Williams and assistant coach Te'Shan Campbell.
"It's exciting to welcome a former Spartan back home in a coaching role," said Chandler. "Ryan's experience as a competitor and coach over the past five years will make an immediate impact on our program. He understands the work ethic needed to be successful, and I look forward to him mentoring, coaching and developing our guys to achieve great things."
Following the conclusion of his collegiate career at Michigan State in 2023, Vasbinder served as an assistant coach at Michigan Revolution Wrestling Club in Highland, Michigan, and spent the 2023-24 season as an assistant coach at UIndy where he contributed to the development of two All-Americans and a future NCAA DII national champion.
Vasbinder spent two seasons on the mat in East Lansing, joining the Spartans in 2021-22 following a four-year career at NCAA DII McKendree University where he was the 2021 NCAA Division II national champion at 197 pounds, a two-time All-American and a three-time NCAA qualifier. In four seasons at McKendree, Vasbinder amassed a career record of 99-27 with a 10-5 record against Division I opponents. He was named NWCA Region 4 Wrestler of the Year and the GLVC Wrestler of the Year in 2021.
His two years as a Spartan resulted in a combined record of 32-23 after Vasbinder served as MSU's starting heavyweight throughout the 2022-23 season. Vasbinder went 6-9 in duals in his final season, securing a team victory for Michigan State with an 8-6 sudden victory decision over two-time national qualifier Matt Cover of Princeton and earning additional dual wins against Presbyterian, American, Brown, Rutgers and Illinois. Vasbinder went 2-3 at the 2023 Big Ten Championships with a pair of decision victories against Illinois' Matt Wroblewski.
"It's exciting to welcome a former Spartan back home in a coaching role," said Chandler. "Ryan's experience as a competitor and coach over the past five years will make an immediate impact on our program. He understands the work ethic needed to be successful, and I look forward to him mentoring, coaching and developing our guys to achieve great things."
Following the conclusion of his collegiate career at Michigan State in 2023, Vasbinder served as an assistant coach at Michigan Revolution Wrestling Club in Highland, Michigan, and spent the 2023-24 season as an assistant coach at UIndy where he contributed to the development of two All-Americans and a future NCAA DII national champion.
Vasbinder spent two seasons on the mat in East Lansing, joining the Spartans in 2021-22 following a four-year career at NCAA DII McKendree University where he was the 2021 NCAA Division II national champion at 197 pounds, a two-time All-American and a three-time NCAA qualifier. In four seasons at McKendree, Vasbinder amassed a career record of 99-27 with a 10-5 record against Division I opponents. He was named NWCA Region 4 Wrestler of the Year and the GLVC Wrestler of the Year in 2021.
His two years as a Spartan resulted in a combined record of 32-23 after Vasbinder served as MSU's starting heavyweight throughout the 2022-23 season. Vasbinder went 6-9 in duals in his final season, securing a team victory for Michigan State with an 8-6 sudden victory decision over two-time national qualifier Matt Cover of Princeton and earning additional dual wins against Presbyterian, American, Brown, Rutgers and Illinois. Vasbinder went 2-3 at the 2023 Big Ten Championships with a pair of decision victories against Illinois' Matt Wroblewski.
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