Coach Purcell has just finshed his 11th season with a 81-72-3 record.

He is a two time Minnesota Community College Conference (MCCC) Coach of The Year.

1 National Champion, 3 National finalist, 10 All-Americans, 75 National Qualifiers, 1 North Central District Outstanding Wrestler, 2 Region XIII Ourtstanding Wrestlers, 14 All-Region XIII wrestlers, and 3 MCCC Wrestlers of The Year have wrestled for Coach Purcell.

9 teams have finished in the top ten at the NJCAA National Tournament during his tenure. 3 teams brought home national trophies (4th, 6th, 5th).

He has put together 6 teams that finished in the top 3 at MCCC State Tournament.

His teams have claimed 2 MCCC dual championships.

Robert Allen Purcell was born in Carrington, ND and graduated from Bismarck High School in Bismarck, ND. He was on 2 State High School Championship teams, a ND State High School Champion, and was part of a then record 172 straight dual wins.

MN State University at Moorhead is where he received 1 BA and 2 BS undergraduate degrees. North Dakota State University is where he received a Master of Education in Activities Administration. He served as an assistant wrestling coach at MSUM for five years under his mentor then coach John Sterner.

He served four years of active duty service for the Department of Army as a Combat Medic. He served in Fort Meyer, VA (Arlington Cemetery), Fort Bragg, NC, and Republic of Haiti.

The Heart of The Earth Survival School, an alternative inner-city Native American school in Minneapolis, MN, is where he was teaching before accepting a position at MN West CTC.

While in the Twins Cities he worked with the White Bear Lake freestyle wrestling club and worked with MN USA wrestling, coaching MN vs. WI Schoolboy Freestyle and Roman Greco wrestling duals. He continued working with MN USA Freestyle wrestling helping with the local freestyle club and MN Cadet National Freestyle team for six years.

At MN West he currently teaches classes in physical education and health, serves on various committees, and coaches wrestling.

 

e-mail: robert.purcellREMOVE-THIS@mnwest.edu