Jim Gruenwald enters his 17th year as the head coach of the Thunder wrestling team in 2025-26. He is also the head Strength & Conditioning coach for Wheaton Athletics.
Gruenwald has twice been recognized as the CCIW Coach of the Year, and in 2015, he led the Thunder to the program's seventh conference title and first since 1981. He has coached nine All-American wrestlers in his time at Wheaton, including two-time honorees, Ethan Harsted and Dan Olsen.
Gruenwald's 2017-18 squad featured two All-Americans, with Frank Aiello finishing fourth at 157 pounds and Carlos Fuentez placing second at 125 pounds. Fuentez won the 125-pound class at the 2018 Pete Willson Wheaton Invitational, becoming Wheaton's first PWWI champion since 2003. Harsted would later become Wheaton's newest PWWI champion with his title win in the 141-pound bracket in 2023.
Gruenwald, a two-time member of the U.S. Olympic Greco Roman wrestling team, came to Wheaton after serving as an assistant coach for U.S. Greco Roman wrestling team at the U.S. Olympic Education Center in Marquette, Michigan from 2005-09. Gruenwald finished sixth at 60 kg in the Greco Roman competition at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and was 10th at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. A three-time U.S. Champion, Gruenwald completed his competitive career in 2008 as a National Champion. He also won titles in 2003 and 2004.
Gruenwald is a 1994 graduate of Maranatha Baptist Bible College, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Math Education in 1994. He compiled a four-year record of 154-19 on the mat in his career at Maranatha. Gruenwald was a three-time National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Champion, earning MVP honors in 1989 and 1991. A former Wheaton Invitational Champion, Gruenwald is a member of Northwestern University’s Midlands Championships 20-Win Club, with 22 career victories at the prestigious tournament.
Additionally, Gruenwald has a number of certifications as a strength coach. He is a USA Weightlifting Certified Coach; he was trained for 12 years by the Strength & Conditioning staff at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center (1993 – 2005); and he developed the S & C program for wrestling at the United States Olympic Education Center (2005 – 2009).
Jim and his wife, Rachel, have seven children: son Adin and six daughters - Arwyn, Ava, Autumn, Aleyse, Ashley, and Amber.Â
