Russ Hellickson

Hellickson allegedly contacted several former OSU wrestling team members and urged them to recant their statements and support Jim Jordan after the former wrestlers accused Jim Jordan of turning a blind eye to alleged sexual abuse, according to the wrestlers and text messages they shared with NBC News. The former wrestlers said their ex-coach made it clear to them he was under pressure from Jordan to get statements of support from members of the team. Yetts shared a July 4, 2018 text message he received from Hellickson with NBC News wherein Hellickson wrote "If you think the story got told wrong about Jim [Jordan], you could probably write a statement for release that tells your story and corrects what you feel bad about. I can put you in contact with someone who would release it. Do not talk to any media. People will call you to convince you I said to talk. No No No"

Hellickson was the head wrestling coach at Ohio State University's (OSU) wrestling program from 1986 to 2006. OSU opened an investigation in April 2018 that looked into allegations of sexual misconduct by the former wrestling team's physician, Richard Strauss. Strauss, who died by suicide in California in 2005, was employed at Ohio State from September 1978 to March 1998 as an athletics doctor, faculty member and student health center physician.

Hellickson competed three times in the World Championships, winning a silver medal in 1979 and a bronze medal in 1971.

Ohio State released a 232-page report by Perkins Coie, a Seattle-based law firm, hired by the university for $6.2 million to conduct a 12 month independent investigation into Strauss' misconduct and find out who at the university knew about it. The report details Srauss' acts of sexual abuse against at least 177 former students including 153 athletes: 48 wrestlers, 16 gymnasts, 15 swimmers/divers, 13 soccer players, 10 lacrosse players and more during his employment.with the university from 1978 to 1998. Investigators concluded that university personnel at the time had knowledge of complaints and concerns about Strauss' conduct as early as 1979 but failed to investigate or act meaningfully.

Russ won 12 national Freestyle championships and one Greco-Roman title. He won the Tbilisi International in 1974 and the World Cup, and was the first wrestler to win three gold medals in the Pan Am Games. Russ is a 1976 Olympic silver medalist and in the same year he earned USWF Grand Champion Wrestler Award based on points earned in tournaments during 1975-76. He also was the USWF Wrestler of the Year in 1976.

Hellickson was the Gold medal winner at the Pan American Games in 1971 (198 pounds), 1975 (220), and 1979 (220)

In 1971, Hellickson began his coaching career as an assistant coach with Wisconsin, becoming the head coach for Wisconsin in 1983. After four seasons as the head coach for Wisconsin, he took over as the head coach for Ohio State from 1986-2006. In 2002, Hellickson was named the 2002 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame on Sept. 26, 2014. Over the duration of his career he has mentored 67 All-Americans and 17 national title holders. five NCAA champions and two dozen All-Americans.

Russ was a consistent winner at the University of Wisconsin, which would lead into national and international prominence after graduation in 1970.

Hellickson was a three-sport high school star, winning three AAU wrestling titles and the 1966 WIAA State Meet at 180 pounds for Stoughton High School in Wisconsin.

Russell Owen "Russ" Hellickson (born May 29, 1948) is an American former amateur wrestler and collegiate wrestling coach. Born in Madison, Wisconsin, Hellickson competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics for the United States, winning the silver medal in the Freestyle Heavyweight competition and served as the captain of the U.S. squad in 1980. He served as national charter president of Federation of Wrestling Clubs, vice president on the USWF National Board of Control, and as a member of the USWF Hall of Fame selection committee. He was also the head wrestling coach at Wisconsin (1982-1986) before finishing out his coaching career at The Ohio State University from 1986-2006.