The National Wrestling Coaches Association is pleased to announce two-time NCAA champion Ben Askren and two-time NCAA All-American Sean Bormet will headline the annual NWCA Coaches Clinic to be held on Saturday, March 22.

"We're pleased to have two great wrestlers and technicians as part of our annual clinic," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "Sean Bormet is one of the most respected technical coaches in the nation and Ben Askren has been one of those wrestlers that changed the face of technique in college wrestling in recent years."

"We're excited to have Ben and Sean this year," added Moyer. "The clinic is something we always look forward to as a staff and we know our members will relish the chance to see the nuances of wrestling that these two will lend to the championship experience."

Askren, a volunteer assistant at Missouri where he was a four-time NCAA finalist and two-time national champion, was the nation's leader in falls during the 2006-07 season and has been one of the sport's most colorful personalities.

A finalist for the Excellence in Sports Yearly (ESPY) Award last year for best male college athlete, Askren was Missouri's first NCAA national champion in 2006 after defeating Northwestern's Jake Herbert in the finals at 174 pounds. Askren followed with an undefeated senior season, repeating as champion at the weight.

Askren finished his career at Missouri with a record of 153-8 with 91 victories coming by fall. He ended his collegiate career by reeling off 87 straight victories with 54 coming by fall.

"Ben Askren has a unique approach to wrestling that's basic in its fundamental goal of going for the pin," said NWCA President Ron Mirikitani. "His personality and showmanship made him fun to watch and he relates his style to others well."

Askren's looking forward to being involved.

"It's good to present," said Askren. "I'm sure the best nation's high school coaches will be there to check out the moves I've got and it's nice to be involved in a showcase event."

Askren doesn't credit himself for the stylistic changes which have impacted wrestling from college to the youth level.

"I came in right as that change started happening and I think I just made it more visible as a defined style," said Askren. "It's actually pretty technical."

But the Mizzou volunteer assistant is always ready to show some of his stuff.

"I'll probably show my go-to funk moves," explained Askren. "Since I'm the only one that knows my funk and I'm the only one that shows them. People aren't going to see them except from me … and we know the people want the funk."

Sean Bormet has been a successful coach across the collegiate and freestyle levels to go along with an equally successful wrestling career. 

Currently operating the Overtime School of Wrestling in the Chicagoland Area, Bormet was a two-time Big Ten Champion at Michigan and earned All-American honors twice, including a runner-up finish at the 1994 NCAA Championships.

A winner of the Bob Uffer Award at Michigan in 1994, awarded to the best senior athlete at Michigan, Bormet also won the Gorriaran Award at the 1993 NCAA Championships picking up the most falls in the least time.

After college, Bormet held coaching positions at Wisconsin and Michigan and has been coaching the Illinois National Freestyle Team since 2002.

In addition to running the Overtime School of Wrestling, Bormet has been a coach with the New York Athletic Club since 2005 and has been a coach with two USA Wrestling World teams (2005 Junior Freestyle, 2006 Senior Freestyle). 

In 2006, Bormet was named the USA Wrestling Freestyle Coach of the Year and in 2007, was the coach for the USA World Cup Team.

"What Sean will bring to our clinic is a great balance of folkstyle and international techniques," said Moyer. "As a coach, it's apparent to everyone that he's one of the best technicians and is a great teacher of young people. The Overtime School of Wrestling is just one indication of how good he is."

"It's great to have these two in St. Louis, one of the most popular destinations for fans that attend the Division I championships," said Mirikitani.

A special leadership presentation will be presented by Maj. Jay Antonelli  of the United States Marine Corps. Maj. Antonelli was recently selected as a 2008 U.S. Olympic Greco Roman Coach and also coached the World Champion 2007 U.S. World Team in Baku, Azerbaijan this past September.

"The U.S. Marine Corps has been a great partner for the NWCA," said Moyer. "Major Antonelli is one of wrestling's top leader on and off the mat. We're excited to have him present on behalf of the U.S. Marine Corps and the NWCA."

The NWCA Coaches Clinic will be held on the final day of the NCAA Championships in the Fan Fest area of the Union Station Parking lot from 2:15-3:45 p.m.