Air Force Wrestling announced on Nov. 26 the appointment of Mohamed Khalil, a three-time Olympian and 2006 World Champion, as the program’s new Director of High Performance.
The addition of Khalil is significant for Air Force Wrestling, as he brings more than twenty years of international experience both as an elite competitor and a coach. His expertise in athlete development and high-performance training is expected to enhance the program’s competitive edge.
Head Coach Sam Barber said, “We are incredibly fortunate to add Coach Mo to our program. He is one of the most accomplished Greco-Roman wrestlers and coaches in the world. His ability to develop athletes at the highest level—Olympic, World Championship, and NCAA—sets him apart. Our cadet-athletes will greatly benefit from his innovative approach, his knowledge of performance science, and his proven commitment to building athletes who excel both on and off the mat.”
Khalil previously coached at the University of North Carolina where he helped Austin O’Connor win a second NCAA National Championship in 2023. He also served as USA Wrestling National Greco-Roman Coach from 2017–2022 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, leading U.S. athletes to multiple medals at major international competitions.
Internationally, Khalil has coached national teams such as Sweden—guiding wrestlers Jimmy Lidberg and Jalmar Sjöberg to World Championship medals—and co-founded Bahrain’s wrestling federation while earning a bronze medal himself at the Asian Championships in 2015. As an athlete representing Egypt, he competed in three Olympic Games (2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens, and 2012 London) and won numerous international titles.
In his new role with Air Force Wrestling, Khalil will oversee areas such as strength and conditioning, nutrition, recovery strategies, sports psychology, tactical preparation, and mentoring athletes across different levels including those at the Air Force Regional Training Center.
“It is an honor to join the Air Force Wrestling Program,” said Coach Mo. “I have dedicated my life to competing, coaching, and mentoring athletes at the highest level. The mission-driven values of this program resonate deeply with me, and I look forward to working with our world-class staff and talented athletes as we pursue excellence on the national and international stage.”
