Hall of Fame
RUSS PAULSEN
Hometown: Clarion, Iowa
Sport: Wrestling
Years: 1972-75
A three-time team captain on the wrestling team, Russ Paulsen finished his Aggie career as one of the most accomplished athletes in Utah State wrestling history. Competing from 1972-75, Paulsen finished his four-year Aggie career with an overall individual record of 87-13-2, which was the most wins ever by a USU wrestler at the time. Paulsen was a two-time NCAA participant in two different weight classes, wrestling at 158 pounds as a sophomore and 177 pounds as a senior. During his senior year, Paulsen had a perfect 30-0-1 record in dual matches while wrestling above his weight class, and he was the No. 2 seed going into the NCAA Tournament that year. He was also awarded the Wayne Estes Memorial Award, which is given annually to the top USU senior student-athlete from any sport. Paulsen was also presented with the George "Doc" Nelson Award, which was given to the top individual wrestler on the team. During his freshman year in 1972, Paulsen became the first Aggie wrestler to ever be named USU Freshman of the Year after posting a 16-3-1 record and winning the Beehive Tournament. He went on to become a three-time champion of the Beehive Tournament during his career, and in 1975, he had the opportunity to represent the West as he participated at the ninth annual East vs. West All-Star meet in Clarion, Pa. He was also the first Aggie wrestler to ever win an individual title at the Arizona Invitational. Paulson helped Utah State to an overall mark of 46-17-2 over his four years and led the Aggies to a pair of top-five regional finishes. Following his collegiate career, Paulsen served as an assistant coach with the Aggie program for three seasons, before coaching at Intermountain Indian School in Brigham City, Utah, for one year, West Jordan (Utah) High School for two years and eventually settling down as the head coach at Bingham High School in South Jordan, Utah. At Bingham HS, he coached 11 state champions and 89 state placers in 25 years. Paulsen retired from coaching in 2018.
