The wrestling community in Lansing, Michigan, and beyond is uniting in support and prayer after Simmons Academy of Wrestling head coach Ben Guiles suffered a sudden, serious medical emergency.
Coach Ben, as people lovingly call him, collapsed during practice on Monday and was rushed to the hospital, where doctors found he had a serious brain bleed.
He is currently stable and receiving care in the ICU, but the road to recovery is expected to be long and challenging.
Simmons Academy of Wrestling shared the difficult news with their members and followers, posting:
“Coach Eddie will be running practice today. As coach nick is with Coach Ben at the hospital. Ben’s stable right now and I will keep everyone posted thanks for the love and prayers for coach Ben and his family.”
Via Facebook
The announcement shows the close-knit nature of the academy, where coaches like Nick Simmons step up to keep training going while supporting one of their own.
By his side are his devoted wife, Brie, and their three children, who are facing this uncertain time together.
Ben, full name Benjamin Guiles, has been a cornerstone of Simmons Academy of Wrestling since taking on the role of head coach in 2017.
His passion spread far beyond the mat as he’s also the CEO and Founder of Good Wrestler Better Human (launched in 2022), an initiative focused on building character and life skills through wrestling, and a Cofounder/Producer at Fearfocused since 2024.
Through these efforts, Coach Ben has positively impacted many young lives, teaching not only wrestling skills but also the values of hard work, resilience, and kindness.
Love and support for Coach Ben have poured in quickly from the community
Close family members have stepped forward to organize ways for the community to help.
Roni, one of Brie’s closest cousins and friends, set up a GoFundMe campaign with a $45,000 goal to ease the financial burdens ahead. In her heartfelt description, Roni wrote:
“My name is Roni and I am one of Bries (Bens wife) closest cousins & friends. Brie and Ben are two people in this world who live their lives pouring into everyone else before themselves, both dedicating their free time outside of work to not just coaching kids but teaching them valuable life lessons on and off the mat & courts. Two of the most selfless people you could ever know.”
Via GoFundMe
She explained that Ben collapsed suddenly at practice, leading to the diagnosis of a severe brain bleed, with many unknowns remaining.
Roni noted that Brie would never ask for help herself, but with Ben likely unable to work or coach for some time, the family, including three children and additional caregiving responsibilities, will need support.
“This is going to be a very long haul for Ben and their family but we serve a mighty God and I know He can do miracles!!”
She added, calling for prayers and donations while noting that any support, even just sharing or praying, is deeply appreciated.
Jessie Tingley, sister-in-law to Ben, expressed similar feelings in her own message.
“Many of you know my brother in law, Ben Guiles. Ben suffered a very serious & sudden medical event yesterday. He is stable right now but it’s going to be a long road to recovery. He and my sister in law, Brie, are some of the hardest working and most selfless people you’ll ever meet. Brie would never ask for help but they’re going to need it. Ben has coached countless kids and is truly dedicated to the sport and the kids in the wrestling community. They have 3 kids and care for other family members often. Please say a prayer for his family, share, and donate if you can.”
Via Meal Train
To help lighten the load on Brie and the kids during this difficult time, a Meal Train has also been organized.
It invites friends, fellow coaches, parents, and community members to provide meals that are easy to reheat or freeze, along with gift cards for local restaurants or grocery delivery.
The organizers beautifully tied it to Coach Ben’s own motto:
“In the spirit of Coach Ben’s motto, ‘Good Wrestler, Better Human’, we want to come together and support the family with kindness and compassion.”
Coach Ben has made a big impact at Simmons Academy of Wrestling in downtown Lansing, where wrestlers train in collegiate, freestyle, and Greco-Roman styles.
Under his leadership, the academy has nurtured not just athletes but better humans, aligning perfectly with the program’s philosophy of going beyond fundamentals to build character and life lessons.
As updates continue to come in, the wrestling world is uniting to lift Coach Ben, Brie, and their family.
Prayers, shares, donations, meals, and messages of encouragement are all welcome ways to show how much this selfless coach means to so many.
The community stands ready to rally, just as Ben has always done for others.
Here’s to a strong recovery for Coach Ben. Keep fighting, Coach. You’ve got an entire mat full of people in your corner. 💪❤️
