Adam Coon

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| name = Adam Coon

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| full_name = Adam Jacob Coon

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|11|14}}

| birth_place = Fowlerville, Michigan, U.S.

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| weight_class = 130 kg

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| event = Greco-Roman, Freestyle, Folkstyle

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| universityteam = Michigan Wolverines

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New York AC

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{{MedalCountry |}} Cliff Keen WC

{{MedalCompetition |FILA Junior Freestyle National Championships}}

{{MedalCountry | the}} Michigan Wolverines

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| current_team = Seattle Sea Dragons

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| position = Offensive guard

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| undraftedyear = 2018

| pastteams = * Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2021}})*

Seattle Sea Dragons ({{XFL Year|2023}})*

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Adam Jacob Coon (born November 14, 1994) is an American heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler. He was also a former professional football player, playing offensive guard for the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL, notable for not having played football in college.{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=Grant |date=Jun 12, 2021 |title=Can Titans OL Adam Coon be the next Stephen Neal? |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/can-titans-ol-adam-coon-be-the-next-stephen-neal |website=NFL.com}} Coon was an accomplished wrestler at the state, national, and international levels. He was a 2011 Cadet World freestyle gold medalist, 2014 Junior World double bronze medalist in both Greco-Roman and freestyle, two-time NCAA Division I finalist (2015, 2018), 2018 Senior World silver medalist in Greco-Roman, and a Pan American gold medalist in 2019 and silver medalist in 2020.

Early life

Coon was a four-time Michigan state high school champion for Fowlerville High School, winning at 215 pounds in 2010 and 2011 and at 285 pounds in 2012 and 2013, while compiling a 212-3 career record, finishing with three straight undefeated seasons. He became 2011 FILA Cadet World champion at 100kg and two-time USA Wrestling Junior Triple Crown winner by capturing titles in folkstyle, Greco-Roman and freestyle in 2012 and 2013.{{Cite web |title=Adam Coon |url=https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/bio/3268 |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=National Wrestling Hall of Fame}}{{Cite web |title=Adam Coon |url=https://mgoblue.com/sports/wrestling/roster/adam-coon/15187 |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=University of Michigan Athletics}}

For his 2013 performance, Coon was named Detroit Athletic Club HS Athlete of the Year, and received the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award (Midwest region), Michigan's "Mr. Wrestler" award, and the Junior Schalles Award for best high school pinner.{{cite web |title=Schalles Award Winners |url=https://www.win-magazine.com/win-awards/schalles-award/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=WIN magazine}} Coon lettered in football and track and field, becoming a state runner-up in discus and shot put. He was also in the National Honor Society and the class of 2013 salutatorian.

College wrestling career

Coon enrolled at the University of Michigan's College of Engineering, majoring in aerospace engineering. In his freshman year at heavyweight, he won the Michigan State Open, the Cliff Keen Las Vegas championship (defeating Nick Gwiazdowski in the quarterfinals), and the Ken Kraft Midlands championship, but went 0-2 at the Big Ten championship, and 2-2 at the 2014 NCAA championships to finish shy of All-American honors. That summer he rebounded by winning University Freestyle Nationals at 125 kg,{{Cite web |date=May 25, 2014 |title=ASICS University Freestyle Nationals |url=https://theguillotine.com/2014/05/asics-university-freestyle-nationals/?doing_wp_cron=1682711512.1608180999755859375000 |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=The Guillotine}} and freestyle and Greco-Roman 120 kg championships at the 2014 FILA Junior World Team Trials to secure his spot at the World Junior Championships.{{Cite web |date=May 30, 2014 |title=FILA Junior World Team Trials |url=https://theguillotine.com/2014/05/fila-junior-world-team-trials-2/?doing_wp_cron=1682711765.8703119754791259765625 |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=The Guillotine}} At the world championships, Coon defeated Arata Sonoda in Greco-Roman and Yunus Emre Dede in freestyle to win double bronze, a rare achievement.{{Cite web |last=Bigsby |first=Patrick |date=April 24, 2018 |title=The Strongest Graduate Student in the World |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/gradhacker/strongest-graduate-student-world |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=Inside Higher Ed}}

In his sophomore year, Coon was named team co-captain, capturing another MSU Open championship, finishing third at Cliff Keen, second at the Southern Scuffle, and third at the Big Ten championships. At the 2015 NCAA championships, he lost to Gwiazdowski in the heavyweight finals, going 4-1 and earning All-American, Academic All-Big Ten, and NWCA All-Academic honors.

As a junior, Coon won the Greco-Roman 130 kg titles at the 2015 Bill Farrell International Open{{Cite web |date=November 7, 2015 |title=Bill Farrell International Open |url=https://theguillotine.com/2015/11/bill-farrell-international-open/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=The Guillotine}} and at the U.S. Open, placed second at the Big Ten championship after losing to Kyle Snyder in the finals, and went 5-1 at the 2016 NCAA championships to place third behind Snyder and Gwiazdowski, earning All-American and All-Academic honors again.{{Cite web |date=March 19, 2016 |title=2016 NCAA Division I National Championships |url=https://theguillotine.com/2016/03/ncaa-division-i-national-championships-5/?doing_wp_cron=1682716559.3021039962768554687500 |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=The Guillotine}} Coon was an alternate in Greco-Roman for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil after placing second at the United States Olympic Team Trials.{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Bill |date=January 16, 2023 |title=Fowlerville's Adam Coon resumes quest for Olympic wrestling gold after taking NFL shot |url=https://www.livingstondaily.com/story/sports/olympics/2023/01/16/fowlervilles-adam-coon-resumes-quest-for-olympic-wrestling-gold/69812451007/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=Livingston Daily}}

Despite redshirting due to injury in his senior year, he received a U-M Athletic Academic Achievement Award. Coon returned with strong showings as a graduate student for the 2017-18 season, winning his third MSU Open title, second Cliff Keen Invitational title, beating no.1 ranked 2016 gold medalist Kyle Snyder in the Clash at Crisler dual meet for Snyder's first loss in over two years,{{Cite web |last=Kornacki |first=Steve |date=February 13, 2018 |title=Michigan's Adam Coon first to beat Olympic gold medalist Snyder since 2015 |url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling/article/2018-02-13/college-wrestling-michigans-adam-coon-first-beat-olympic-gold |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=NCAA.com}} placing second at the Big Ten championships after losing to Snyder in double over-time, and second at the 2018 NCAA championships after losing to Snyder again,{{Cite web |date=March 17, 2018 |title=2018 NCAA Division I Championships |url=https://theguillotine.com/2018/03/2018-ncaa-division-i-championships/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=The Guillotine}} earning All-American and All-Academic honors for the third time, and a second Athletic Academic Achievement Award. Coon finished his college career with a 116-15 overall record and .885 win percentage, the sixth highest in U-M history.

Football career

On June 4, 2021, the Tennessee Titans signed Coon to play on the offensive line.{{cite web|title=Titans Agree to Terms With Decorated Wrestler Adam Coon|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-agree-to-terms-with-decorated-wrestler-adam-coon|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TennesseeTitans.com|date=June 4, 2021}} He was an All-State linebacker in high school and was an honorable mention offensive lineman. He attended the University of Michigan, but never played college football. On August 12, 2021, Coon was waived/injured by the Titans and placed on injured reserve.{{cite web|title=Titans sign S Tedric Thompson and S Reggie Floyd; Waive WR Kalija Lipscomb and OL Adam Coon (injured)|url=https://www.musiccitymiracles.com/platform/amp/2021/8/12/22621721/titans-sign-tedric-thompson-and-reggie-floyd-waive-kalija-lipscomb-adam-coon-injured|author=Morris, Jimmy|website=SBNation.com|date=August 12, 2021}} He was released on August 20, 2021.

On June 15, 2022, Coon had a workout with the Atlanta Falcons.{{Cite web|title=Falcons worked out veteran center Jonotthan Harrison|url=https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/amp/falcons_worked_out_veteran_center_jonotthan_harrison/s1_14819_37593513|access-date=2023-03-23|website=yardbarker.com|language=en}}

Coon was assigned to the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL on January 6, 2023.{{cite tweet |user=XFL_PR |title=Seattle Sea Dragons |number=1611448066363604992 |date=January 6, 2023 |access-date=January 7, 2023}}

Greco-Roman wrestling career

After graduating college, Coon pursued an international career in the Greco-Roman style. In 2019, Coon won the gold medal in the 130 kg event at the Pan American Wrestling Championships held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In the same year, he also represented the United States at the 2019 Pan American Games in the 130 kg event without winning a medal; he was eliminated in his first match by Yasmani Acosta of Chile who went on to win one of the bronze medals.{{Cite web|url=https://unitedworldwrestling.org/sites/default/files/2019-08/results_08_lima.pdf|title=2019 Pan American Games Wrestling Results|website=United World Wrestling|url-status=live|access-date=17 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812224834/https://unitedworldwrestling.org/sites/default/files/2019-08/results_08_lima.pdf |archive-date=August 12, 2019 }}

At the 2019 World Wrestling Championships held in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, he competed in the 130 kg event where he was eliminated in his first match by Meng Lingzhe of China.{{Cite web|url=https://unitedworldwrestling.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/nur-sultan_kz_final-book_1.pdf|title=2019 World Wrestling Championships Results|website=United World Wrestling|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412151211/https://unitedworldwrestling.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/nur-sultan_kz_final-book_1.pdf|archive-date=12 April 2020|access-date=12 April 2020}}

In March 2020, at the Pan American Wrestling Championships held in Ottawa, Canada, he won the silver medal in the 130 kg event.{{Cite news|last=Rowbottom|first=Mike|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1091581/pan-american-wrestling-greco-roman|title=United States win three golds on day one of Pan American Wrestling Championships in Ottawa|date=6 March 2020|work=InsideTheGames.biz|access-date=17 March 2020}} A few days later, he competed in the 2020 Pan American Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament, also held in Ottawa, Canada, without qualifying for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.{{Cite web|title=2020 Pan American Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament|url=https://unitedworldwrestling.org/sites/default/files/2020-03/senior_pan-american_og_qualifier.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822112639/https://unitedworldwrestling.org/sites/default/files/2020-03/senior_pan-american_og_qualifier.pdf|archive-date=22 August 2020|access-date=22 August 2020|website=United World Wrestling}} In May 2021, he also failed to qualify for the Olympics at the World Olympic Qualification Tournament held in Sofia, Bulgaria.{{Cite news|last=Goodwin|first=Cody|date=May 8, 2021|title=Ex-Michigan wrestler Adam Coon fails to qualify for 2021 Olympics berth|work=Detroit Free Press|url=https://eu.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2021/05/08/michigan-wrestler-adam-coon-2021-olympics/5005907001/|access-date=May 8, 2021}}{{Cite web|title=2021 World Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament Results Book|url=https://uww.org/sites/default/files/2021-05/world_og_qualifier_final_book.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509161754/https://uww.org/sites/default/files/2021-05/world_og_qualifier_final_book.pdf|archive-date=9 May 2021|access-date=9 May 2021|website=United World Wrestling}}

In January 2023, Coon resumed training in Greco-Roman wrestling, and made the USA Greco-Roman wrestling team for the 2024 Olympics. He competed in the 130{{nbsp}}kg event at the Olympics.{{Cite web |title=Wrestling Results Book |url=https://olympics.com/OG2024/pdf/OG2024/WRE/OG2024_WRE_B99_WRE-------------------------------.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240811181048/https://olympics.com/OG2024/pdf/OG2024/WRE/OG2024_WRE_B99_WRE-------------------------------.pdf |archive-date=11 August 2024 |access-date=12 August 2024 |website=2024 Summer Olympics}}

References

External links

{{UWW|coon-adam-jacob|Adam Jacob Coon}}
{{IWD|41F92187D5724E8D849A5966630CB0E5|Adam Jacob Coon}}
{{Olympics.com|adam-jacob-coon|Adam Jacob Coon}}
[https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/adam-jacob-coon_1955302 Adam Jacob Coon] at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics
{{2019 Pan American Games profile|wrestling/athlete-profile-n1132677-coon-adam|Adam Coon}}
[https://www.themat.com/profiles/adam-coon Adam Coon] at USA Wrestling
{{Team USA|new_id=adam-coon|old_id=Adam-Coon|sport=usa-wrestling|archive=20210916220055}}

Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:American male sport wrestlers

Category:World Wrestling Championships medalists

Category:Pan American Wrestling Championships medalists

Category:Wrestlers at the 2019 Pan American Games

Category:Pan American Games wrestlers for the United States

Category:Tennessee Titans players

Category:Players of American football from Michigan

Category:American football offensive guards

Category:21st-century American sportsmen