Ben Sprunger enters his first season as assistant coach for VMI after being hired in October 2012. 

Sprunger, a 2006 graduate of Purdue, comes to Lexington after serving as the head coach of the Boiler Elite Wrestling Club in West Lafayette, Ind from 2010-12. The club served as the wrestling club for Purdue, as well as for youth from kindergarten through high school. While working with the club, Sprunger received an Olympic training waiver, allowing him to train and practice with the Boilermakers’ varsity program.

From 2006-07, Sprunger worked with Athletes in Action in Nalchik, Russia, an organization that works on an international level by building spiritual movements through sports. During his time in Russia, Sprunger worked with and competed against some of Russia’s finest wrestlers.

During his final season at Purdue, he served as the University’s AIA president. Volunteer work through the Christian Ministry Fellowship took Sprunger to Campinas, Brazil where he helped build churches and start a college ministry during the summer of 2005.

Sprunger has coaching experience at several levels, including a year (2007-08) as the head assistant coach at Manchester College, an NCAA Division III school in North Manchester, Ind. He also served as a volunteer assistant coach at Lake Wood High School in 2009-10 and was a volunteer assistant coach at his alma mater following his final season of athletic eligibility.