Ben Cousins

Varsity Wrestling Head Coach

Ben Cousins is a dedicated wrestling coach, educator, and motivational speaker whose journey in the sport is deeply rooted in resilience, personal growth, and service to others. Currently serving as the Head Wrestling Coach at Hopkins High School, the 2026–27 season will mark his sixth year leading the program, where he oversees Varsity, JV, and Girls wrestling. Prior to Hopkins, Cousins spent three years as Head Coach at Minneapolis Southwest and two years at Bloomington Kennedy as both an assistant coach and middle school head coach.

Diagnosed with autism at the age of two, Cousins found wrestling at age eleven and credits the sport with helping him overcome significant sensory and physical challenges. His competitive career includes being a three-time member of the Minnesota Storm National Wrestling Team in Freestyle and Greco-Roman, as well as a state qualifier for Bloomington Kennedy High School. At the collegiate level, he competed for Concordia College–Moorhead, where he became the 2016 NCAA Division III West Regional Champion and a two-time NCAA Division III National Qualifier at 157 pounds.

Following college, Cousins continued to compete and succeed, earning a third-place finish at Corn Cob Nationals and becoming a five-time Old Timers tournament champion. His dedication to the sport has translated into impactful coaching, highlighted by honors such as the 2019 Minneapolis City Conference Coach of the Year and a 2018 Section 3AAA Assistant Coach of the Year nomination. He also serves as the incoming Section 5AAA Co-Representative.

Beyond wins and titles, Cousins is passionate about using wrestling as a platform for inclusion and personal development. During the 2019–2020 season, he coached a Minneapolis JV City Champion with Down syndrome, a story that received coverage from WCCO. His philosophy, “Humans First. Athletes Second.”, guides his approach to coaching and mentorship.

Cousins has shared his personal story to inspire others through appearances on FOX and WCCO news, as well as speaking engagements at the North Dakota Autism Center and various collegiate award ceremonies. He currently lives in Bloomington, Minnesota, where he works as a high school Special Education Job Coach. Looking ahead, he plans to pursue his NASM Personal Training Certification to continue expanding his impact in coaching and fitness.