Illinois wrestling is heading into a stretch of its season with a major shift at the top.
On Friday, the university announced that head coach Mike Poeta has been placed on indefinite administrative leave. The move comes as Illinois conducts an internal investigation into potential violations of Poeta’s employment agreement, specifically tied to possible noncompliance with the university’s fiscal control policies.
While the statement from athletic director Josh Whitman didn’t dive into the specifics of the alleged violations, it made clear that Poeta will remain away from the program while the matter is being reviewed.
In the interim, assistant coach Jeremy Hunter will step in as acting head coach. Hunter, a former NCAA champion and long-time assistant, now finds himself guiding the Illini through a pivotal part of their season.
Poeta, who took over the program in 2021, is a name familiar to Illini fans. As a student-athlete from 2004 to 2008, he built a decorated career on the mat-earning three All-American honors and winning two Big Ten titles. His return to lead the program was seen as a homecoming for one of Illinois’ most accomplished wrestlers.
Under his leadership, Illinois has shown promise, and the current squad holds a 5-2 record. The timing of the shakeup is significant, with the team set to compete in a doubleheader this Sunday in Nashville against Cornell and Lehigh-two respected programs that will test the Illini’s depth and focus.
For now, the attention shifts to how the team responds under Hunter’s leadership. Wrestling seasons are long and grueling, and stability at the top can be key. But this group has veterans who’ve been through the grind before, and Sunday’s meets will offer the first glimpse of how they handle adversity off the mat as well as on it.