Ben Wissel rejoined the Boilermaker coaching staff in the fall of 2010, serving as the volunteer assistant coach. He maintained the same position in the 2008 season, and has been a mainstay in West Lafayette in recent years as one of the directors of the Boiler Elite Wrestling Club in addition to his training and competing in international freestyle wrestling.
Wissel was a two-time All-American and one of Purdue[apos]s most decorated wrestlers in recent history, competing for the Old Gold and Black from 2001 to 2006. He qualified for the NCAA Championships in all four of his varsity seasons at 184 pounds, placing eighth in 2005 and seventh in 2006, and was a four-time placewinner at the Big Ten Championships, taking third place twice. He rose as high as No. 1 in the country in the various collegiate individual polls and posted wins over a variety of the best wrestlers in the country and conference through his tenure.
One of the most statistically dominant wrestlers to ever don the Old Gold and Black, Wissel is one of just 14 athletes in school history to top the 100-career win mark, racking up 115 to match fellow All-American Tony Vaughn for fourth all-time at Purdue. He ranks second all-time with 406 career takedowns, including a single-season record 188 in his senior campaign. His 38 wins as a senior are tied for fifth-best in school history, while his 86% winning percentage that season is good for the No. 11 mark at Purdue.