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Iowa influence: Former Hawkeyes dot the college coaching ranks
Many former Hawkeyes were coaching teams, individuals at the Soldier Salute
Jan. 3, 2025 10:09 am, Updated: Jan. 3, 2025 10:27 am
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CORALVILLE – University of Iowa wrestlers have made an impact on the sport, even when they left the confines of Iowa City.
Dan Gable's coaching tree was exceptional, propelling former wrestlers and assistants into the coaching ranks at all levels throughout the country.
Now, the next group of coaches with Hawkeye roots has sprouted up at various other programs, influencing another generation of competitors.
Several assistant coaches and a couple head coaches with Iowa ties manned corners for opposing teams at the Soldier Salute Sunday and Monday at Xtream Arena. Most had wrestled for Iowa and Coach Tom Brands within the last 15 seasons.
“It’s awesome just because we know we're passing on the philosophies, teachings and the style of wrestling that we learned when we were there at the University of Iowa,” said North Carolina assistant Tony Ramos, who was a three-time All-American and 2014 NCAA champion for the Hawkeyes said. “There are only so many spots on a staff. Everyone can't stay in Iowa. Your teammates, the guys that you competed with and trained with, they’re bettering their lives and they're doing what they love.”
It was hard not to spot a former Hawkeye coaching, in addition to the current Iowa assistants Terry Brands, Ryan Morningstar and Bobby Telford. Iowa State assistants and former Hawkeye national champions Brent Metcalf and Derek St. John were on hand, coaching 125-pounder Kysen Terukina to a Soldier Salute title. Olympic bronze medalist and NCAA finalist Thomas Gilman is on the Oklahoma State staff, helping young talent Cody Merrill finish third at 197 pounds with a win over Minnesota’s No. 10 Isaiah Salazar.
Speaking of Minnesota, Michael Kemerer is in his first year on the Golden Gophers staff. He was a five-time All-American and NCAA finalist for the Hawkeyes.
“What I always reflect on is you share a lot of history and hard hours in the wrestling room with one another,” Metcalf said. “To me, there’s a mutual respect for most of those guys because there has been a lot of blood, sweat and tears shared together in there.
“It makes it fun compared to coaching against someone that I don’t know at all.”
Metcalf closed his college career with his second NCAA title in 2010. He remained in the Hawkeye Wrestling Club, competing for the U.S. World Team at the 2015 World Championships in Las Vegas. Metcalf was in the Hawkeye room from 2006-17 before cutting his teeth in coaching. He worked out with Kemerer, who competed from 2016 to 2022.
Metcalf worked out with Kemerer and joined the Cyclones staff while Kemerer was still competing. Now, they’re coaching against one another.
“I think that it’s unique,” Metcalf said. “I think it’s a compliment to the system and a compliment to those guys for the amount of hard work they put in to put themselves in their positions.”
Metcalf and St. John have transitioned from scraps in Iowa’s wrestling room to relying on one another in the Cyclone wrestling room. They have complementary styles. They will consult each other if they have a wrestler needing help in the other’s expertise. The time in the Iowa room developed trust in each other.
“For our situation, I don’t think it could be better,” Metcalf said. “We used to have battles so there are a ton of respect there. I know this guy is willing to do whatever it takes to win. That translates over to your coaching and the amount of hard work we put into it.”
Gilman said the transition to coaching is tougher than competing because he doesn’t have direct control of the outcome, like when he was on the mat. It is in the wrestlers’ hands.
Some older Hawkeyes continue to mentor young wrestlers, like former Cedar Rapids Prairie three-time state champion and three-time NCAA champion Barry Davis and Ty Eustice, who are assistants for Navy.
Former Iowa NCAA champion Doug Schwab led University of Northern Iowa to a runner-up finish with 10 medalists. Ned Shuck is a former Hawkeye, leading Bellarmine.
But it wasn’t relegated to the men’s tournament or NCAA Division I programs. Former Hawkeye Jake Kadel and his assistant Cash Wilcke lead William Penn’s women’s division.
“Obviously, they’re competing against each other, too,” Kadel said. “They're in the same division, so there's a little different for them. For me, I get to enjoy seeing my old teammates and friends and that's super exciting for me just because I love those guys.”
Kadel is in his second season at William Penn. He started coaching with club wrestling with former Hawkeye Pablo Ubasa and then helped in the high school ranks as he attended graduate school in Ohio.
Kadel returned to Iowa, hoping to enter medical school. He started to help at Iowa Wesleyan and eventually coached both men’s and women’s wrestling before the school closed.
Kadel coached USA Wrestling’s 2024 Women’s College Wrestler of the Year Adaugo Nwachuku, who made the move from Iowa Wesleyan with Kadel and Wilcke. The program will add another elite wrestler to theprogram, receiving a verbal commitment from three-time undefeated Tennessee state champion and U17 World Champion Piper Fowler.
“It was just a different energy level,” Kadel said. “It was a lot more excitement in the room. It was just different. Girls like to laugh and giggle and dance and things like that during practice, Sometimes Cash and I joke about like could you imagine if Tom started dancing in practice? It's funny to think about, but it's just a different energy, It's super exciting and that's why I really enjoy it and sticking with it.”
Kadel said he has incorporated his Iowa experience into his current approach. He and Wilcke can provide their wrestlers something different than most any NAIA program in the country.
“A lot of that mindset and those high-level goals and thinking of setting the standard for excellence is all a testament of our time from Iowa,” Kadel said. “That's what we implement into our program here. That's what really separates us from every other women's program in the nation.”
Some have head coaching aspirations, including Metcalf and Ramos. Metcalf said he is interested in making the leap someday but he is in no hurry.
“I love Iowa State,” Metcalf said. “I love this program. I love where we’re at and we’ll see. I’m kind of a fate guy. When it’s the right time, it’s the right time. Whether it’s Iowa State or if I have to move on from here, I think that will be clear in my mind. It’s not anything I’m actively pursuing.”
Ramos said he has meshed the tenets of the Iowa program from what he has learned from other coaches. He strives to incorporate it into his own program one day.
“That's always my goal,” Ramos said. “From Day 1, the goal was to be a head coach. Sometimes it takes time and you learn from different people. You’ve got to develop your philosophies and your coaching style.”
Energy and focus are on wrestlers during competition. There are moments to share best procedures, old stories, simply joke around or to discuss life off the mat.
“I’d say it’s kind of hit or miss, depending on the tournament and the environment,” Metcalf said. “For example, if you happen to cross paths after weigh-ins it’s a pretty relaxed time. We have two hours to sit around and do nothing. It’s a good time to catch up.”
Metcalf added, “Just small talk from me. I like to keep up on some of those guys. I have a family now but some of the others are starting to have families. Some of them, I know their families, children, wives and some I don’t. Just stuff like that.”
Kadel said he was able to socialize with Telford, who he has worked with on camps, and Terry Brands.
Ramos estimated he spent eight to 10 years at Iowa. He has almost been with the Tar Heels for the same amount of time, joining the staff for the 2016-17 season. Ramos said he was able to talk with Kadel, Gilman, Metcalf, St. John and Schwab, comparing the Hawkeyes as a family.
“That's a place where you grew into the person you are,” Ramos said. “You made some of the best friends that you ever had there. There's always going to be a huge bond that no matter where you're at or what you're doing, it can't be taken away.”
Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com
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