UFC Champ Daniel Cormier Takes Job as High School Wrestling Head Coach

Daniel Cormier's heavyweight championship fight against Stipe Miocic at UFC 226 in July isn't stopping the UFC star from looking forward to a career beyond the Octagon.

Cormier is set to become the head wrestling coach at Gilroy (California) High School, MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani reported Tuesday.

Cormier said in January he plans to retire from mixed martial arts in March 2019 to coincide with his 40th birthday. ESPN.com's Brett Okamoto wrote that coaching at Gilroy will be a part of Cormier's life after fighting along with maintaining his involvement with the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California.

Cormier told Okamoto his family is also a big factor in accepting the coaching opportunity: "The job came available in my town and it's a really good school and program—but most of all, it helps my son. My boy is seven and he has a lot of good partners at AKA, but when you add that team too, it gives him a ton of guys to wrestle with. I believe it will help him on his journey."

Cormier believes his high profile will help draw attention to Gilroy's wrestlers as well, potentially benefiting them if they pursue wrestling after high school.

Prior to making the transition to MMA, Cormier was an accomplished freestyle wrestler. He finished runner-up to Cael Sanderson in the 184-pound weight class in the 2001 NCAA tournament and was a bronze medalist at the 2007 World Wrestling Championships.