Neil Erisman, who has led the Little Rock Trojans wrestling program since its start in 2018, will remain head coach for at least five more years following a contract extension announced by Little Rock Director of Athletics Frank M. Cuervo.
“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 joined the university when it launched its wrestling program and quickly helped develop it into a nationally ranked team. The Trojans currently hold the No. 14 spot 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.”
Under Erisman’s guidance, the team achieved significant milestones during the 2024-25 season, including tying its record with five athletes advancing to the NCAA Championships. For two consecutive years, two wrestlers—Stephen Little and Matty Bianchi—earned All-American honors. Erisman was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year for a second straight year after leading the team to its highest-ever national ranking by NWCA at No. 15.
In the previous season (2023-24), Erisman received both NWCA Coach of the Year and Pac-12 Coach of the Year awards as he led Little Rock into new territory: breaking into NWCA’s Top 25 rankings for the first time and finishing as Pac-12 runner-up with five NCAA qualifiers.
Before joining Little Rock, Erisman had coaching stints at Oklahoma State and North Carolina where he mentored numerous NCAA All-Americans and national champions.
Further information about Little Rock Wrestling can be found on LRTrojans.com or through their social media accounts @LittleRockWRES on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
