Central Michigan University Athletics
Photo by: Josie Ransley '25,M'27 - @josieransmedia
'It’s a lifetime of loving what you do and having the people around you who can help you be successful'
5/29/2026 10:06:00 AM | General, Wrestling, Our Stories
CLEVELAND – Legendary Central Michigan wrestling coach Tom Borrelli has taken his rightful place among the best in Mid-American Conference history.
Borrelli, who led CMU wrestling to an unprecedented 30 MAC titles and was named the MAC Coach of the Year 15 times, was inducted on Thursday into the MAC Hall of Fame during a ceremony at Hotel Cleveland.
"I'm very honored and humbled, It's a great honor," Borrelli said in a brief post-ceremony interview. "It's a lifetime of loving what you do and having the people around you who can help you be successful. I can't thank those people enough for this great honor. I had a blast coaching at CMU for 33 years. It was a passion of mine and I had the right people around me. I'll always be indebted to Central Michigan University."
Borrelli amassed a remarkable 368-179 dual meet record at CMU including an extraordinary 154-36 in MAC duals. He coached one national champion, 45 All-Americans, 10 MAC Wrestler of the Year honorees, 10 wrestlers who earned the MAC Freshman of the Year Award, seven who were named the Outstanding Wrestler Award at the MAC Championships, 93 MAC champions, 61 National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-Americans, 79 Academic All-MAC selections, and two Academic All-Americans.
His 15 MAC regular-season, 15 MAC Championships and 15 MAC Coach of the Year Awards are all records.
He is the 13th CMU representative in the hall after softball coach Margo Jonker, inducted in 2020; track and field athlete Bruno Pauletto, 2019; basketball player Dan Majerle, 2017; coach/administrator Marcy Weston, 2016; wrestler Casey Cunningham, 2015; basketball coach Charlie Coles, 2014; baseball coach/administrator Dave Keilitz, 2013; football coach Herb Deromedi, 2012; football player Gary Hogeboom, 1994; three-sport standout Karen (Karner) Michalak, 1992; basketball player Dan Roundfield, 1990; and athlete/coach/administrator Ted Kjolhede, 1988.
Borrelli is the third wrestling coach to join the hall after Kent State's Joe Begala, a 1991 inductee, and Ohio's Harry Houska (2014).
"Tom Borrelli is rightfully among the most respected and admired men in college wrestling and Central Michigan Athletics history," Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Amy Folan said. "He has meant everything to not only Central Michigan Wrestling, but to the athletic department, and the university community. His program was very, very successful and more than that, he is class and dignity personified."
Borrelli was inducted in the Marcy Weston CMU Athletics Hall of Fame shortly after his retirement in 2024. The Hall includes 26 members who were associated with the wrestling program, the vast majority of them wrestlers who were mentored by Borrelli.
Borrelli, who led CMU wrestling to an unprecedented 30 MAC titles and was named the MAC Coach of the Year 15 times, was inducted on Thursday into the MAC Hall of Fame during a ceremony at Hotel Cleveland.
"I'm very honored and humbled, It's a great honor," Borrelli said in a brief post-ceremony interview. "It's a lifetime of loving what you do and having the people around you who can help you be successful. I can't thank those people enough for this great honor. I had a blast coaching at CMU for 33 years. It was a passion of mine and I had the right people around me. I'll always be indebted to Central Michigan University."
Borrelli amassed a remarkable 368-179 dual meet record at CMU including an extraordinary 154-36 in MAC duals. He coached one national champion, 45 All-Americans, 10 MAC Wrestler of the Year honorees, 10 wrestlers who earned the MAC Freshman of the Year Award, seven who were named the Outstanding Wrestler Award at the MAC Championships, 93 MAC champions, 61 National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-Americans, 79 Academic All-MAC selections, and two Academic All-Americans.
His 15 MAC regular-season, 15 MAC Championships and 15 MAC Coach of the Year Awards are all records.
He is the 13th CMU representative in the hall after softball coach Margo Jonker, inducted in 2020; track and field athlete Bruno Pauletto, 2019; basketball player Dan Majerle, 2017; coach/administrator Marcy Weston, 2016; wrestler Casey Cunningham, 2015; basketball coach Charlie Coles, 2014; baseball coach/administrator Dave Keilitz, 2013; football coach Herb Deromedi, 2012; football player Gary Hogeboom, 1994; three-sport standout Karen (Karner) Michalak, 1992; basketball player Dan Roundfield, 1990; and athlete/coach/administrator Ted Kjolhede, 1988.
Borrelli is the third wrestling coach to join the hall after Kent State's Joe Begala, a 1991 inductee, and Ohio's Harry Houska (2014).
"Tom Borrelli is rightfully among the most respected and admired men in college wrestling and Central Michigan Athletics history," Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Amy Folan said. "He has meant everything to not only Central Michigan Wrestling, but to the athletic department, and the university community. His program was very, very successful and more than that, he is class and dignity personified."
Borrelli was inducted in the Marcy Weston CMU Athletics Hall of Fame shortly after his retirement in 2024. The Hall includes 26 members who were associated with the wrestling program, the vast majority of them wrestlers who were mentored by Borrelli.
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