Nov. 5, 2007: RevWrestling.com

Greco Star Ruiz Added to Utah Valley State Coaching Staff

OREM, Utah -- Utah Valley wrestling coach Greg Williams has announced the hiring of new assistant Justin Ruiz to his staff. Ruiz is a highly decorated wrestler from Taylorsville, Utah that brings with him experience and name recognition. Ruiz and Williams have worked together before, with Ruiz serving as one of the head coach's wrestling pupils at the club level during high school.

"After having Greg as a coach it will be nice to be back with him and work with him on another level," said Ruiz. "It's close to where I grew up and I'm happy to be back in Utah. I think there's a lot of great talent in this state and a lot of wrestlers leave Utah for college. I'd like to see those kids stay here and show the country how competitive we are."

"Justin has a very likeable personality and brings a really great attitude into our room," said Williams. "He wrested for me at the club level so he knows my style and it's easy for us to be on the same page. The experience he brings with his international level of competition will definitely help our program."

Ruiz is currently a member of the United States Greco-Roman team that won the 2007 World Championship. He is a four-time US National Champions and four-time US World Team member and a winner of the world bronze medal in 2005 in Budapest, Hungary.

Ruiz, who was an alternate on the 2004 US Olympic Team, is preparing for a spot on the 2008 squad. He is also the 2007 Pan American Games Gold Medalist among several other national and international credentials.

Ruiz prepped at Taylorsville High School in Taylorsville, Utah, where he was a three-time high school state champion, a three-time junior national champion and a high school national champion.

He was also a member of the Junior World team two times and the winner of the Dave Schultz Excellence Award.

After high school he redshirted one season at Nebraska before serving an LDS mission in Concepcion, Chile. Upon returning from his mission, he spent the next two seasons as an All-American at Nebraska.

Since then Ruiz has made the transiton to the international ranks, where he is preparing for a shot at Olympic Gold in 2008.

Ruiz enjoys playing the guitar and spending time with his wife, Sarah, and their three dogs. He and Sarah married in 2005.