LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The coach who has guided Little Rock's wrestling program since its inception will continue to lead the Trojans for the foreseeable future. Little Rock Director of Athletics Frank M. Cuervo announced today that head coach Neil Erisman has agreed to a five-year contract extension.

"Neil has been instrumental in building Little Rock Wrestling from the ground up into one of the nation's emerging powerhouse programs. His vision, work ethic, and investment in our student-athletes are unmatched, and the success we've seen in such a short period of time is a direct reflection of his leadership," Cuervo said. "We are thrilled that he will continue to lead the Trojans and solidify the momentum he has created. Little Rock Wrestling's future is incredibly bright, and we couldn't be more excited for what's ahead under Neil's continued direction."

Erisman came to Little Rock in 2018, when the Trojans launched their wrestling program, and it did not take long to build the team into a nationally ranked contender. The Trojans are currently ranked No. 14 in the latest FloWrestling poll.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue what we've started here at Little Rock," Erisman said. "It's been an incredible journey, and we're not done yet. A special thank you to UA Little Rock Chancellor Christina Drale and Little Rock Director of Athletics Frank Cuervo for their leadership, and to our loyal supporters and fans for believing in this program. I couldn't do it without the unwavering support of my wife and kids. The Lord has truly blessed us, and we're proud to call Little Rock our home."

Erisman has led Little Rock Wrestling to unprecedented success, guiding the Trojans to a banner 2024-25 season that saw a program-record tying five competitors advance to the NCAA Championships. For the second straight year, Little Rock produced two All-Americans (Stephen Little and Matty Bianchi). Erisman was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year, becoming the first coach to earn the honor in back-to-back seasons since 2018, after leading the Trojans to a No. 15 national ranking by the NWCA — the highest in program history.

In 2023-24, Erisman was honored as both NWCA Coach of the Year and Pac-12 Coach of the Year after guiding Little Rock to multiple milestones. The Trojans broke into the NWCA Top 25 for the first time, and finished the year ranked No. 18 nationally. Little Rock was the Pac-12 runner-up and qualified five wrestlers for the NCAA Championships with two, including Stephen Little, earning All-America honors.

Erisman's background includes a standout career as both a competitor and coach at two of the nation's premier wrestling programs, Oklahoma State and North Carolina. Over the course of his coaching career, he has mentored 20 NCAA All-Americans and four national champions.

For the latest information on Little Rock Wrestling, check out LRTrojans.com. You can also follow the team on social media at @LittleRockWRES on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

#LittleRocksTeam | #RockSolid