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Former Big Blue wrestler James Buss joined the Millikin wrestling staff in May 2021 as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
Most recently, Buss has been an assistant coach at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio where he earned a Masters in Educational Leadership. While at Heidelberg, Buss helped coach three NCAA Division III qualifiers and one All-American. Buss helped mentor the team to two top 30 GPA finishes in the country and six NWCA Academic All-Americans.
Prior to Heidelberg, Buss coached at De La Salle Institute where he assisted in coaching twenty IHSA state qualifiers and six state place finishers including one finalist.
Buss started his collegiate wrestling career at Loras College where he was First Team All-Conference and was awarded Most Valuable Wrestler in 2014. At Loras, Buss was a two time All-American and a National Champion at the Heavyweight division in 2014.
Buss transferred to Millikin University after the program was revived. Buss went on to be a CCIW champion and a National Qualifier before he had to injury default out of the tournament. Buss graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Communication from Millikin University in 2017.
Buss is originally from Chicago and graduated from De La Salle Institute in 2012. Buss during his high school career qualified for the 3A state tournament three times. Placing third his junior year and capping off a high school career with a state championship in his senior year.
