Husker Wrestling: James Green Stepping Down, Robert Kokesh Elevated To Assistant

Green will stay in Lincoln to train through the summer and focus on making the World Championships, and he has not stated his next move, but the speculation is that he’s going to join Virginia Tech’s coaching staff, either as its Associate Head Coach or as an assistant — both positions are currently open.

Green previously trained at Virginia Tech at the Southeast Regional Training Center for nearly two years from 2020 through 2022 before being named USA Wrestling’s National Freestyle Developmental Coach. He served in that role for a year before returning to Lincoln in 2023.

Ironically, Green will be replaced on staff by Robert Kokesh, the current NWTC head coach. A former Husker, Kokesh is one of the best Nebraska has ever had. He’s second on the all-time wins chart for Nebraska with his 144-15 career record, giving him the second-best win percentage in program history (.906), just behind current Husker Associate Head Coach Bryan Snyder’s .925 (136-11 career record). Green and Kokesh were the first Huskers to win Big Ten titles, doing so in 2014.

Green actually joined the Husker staff in 2023 to replace Kokesh when he stepped down to take over his family farm. Kokesh had served as an assistant coach for Nebraska from 2016 through 2023, so I anticipate a pretty seamless transition here.

A monster in the top position in college, Kokesh is known for his expertise in coaching guys up there.

With Kokesh taking the assistant spot, that may mean the NWTC will be looking for a new head coach, but that role could also be filled collectively by the staff, especially current assistants Tervel Dlagnev and Kokesh who are the last two guys to have that job before being elevated to full-time assistants.