Coaching Staff Next Year

Mattski

All-Conference
Apr 21, 2022
937
2,482
93
Those kids want to wrestle for Iowa in Iowa City. They don't want to wrestle for M*. Just stop it.

Cael just stated that HE wrestles with his guys every day and puts them in places where they struggle so they get better. Great coaches and teammates are what make guys better. Throw in some top international guys and that is the recipe for success.

Tom, Terry, M* and Bob aren't making our guys better and that can't be argued any longer.
Well someone had to reach out and start the relationship building. Someone had to alert Tom to their presence and push him to recruit them. They might not have committed to Iowa to come be with M* but they'd have likely never gotten the opportunity otherwise... or at the very least had the ball start rolling if not for him.
 

shm138

Redshirt
Oct 15, 2003
1
10
3
What is the issue with a lot of fans excusing Tom Brands of responsibility for the current state of Iowa wrestling? So many people blame Morningstar and Telford. It starts at the top. Tom Brands is the reason Iowa wrestling is where it is at today. I heard through a reliable source years ago when Iowa brought in coaches from the outside the Iowa program, Tom would not let them introduce new ideas, training methods, etc. The comment told to me from Tom was "We do it this way." If true, would that really surprise anyone? It does not matter who you bring in as an assistant if they are not allowed to coach to their abilities and what they excel in. If you look at the staff, they are clones of each other. There is no variety in the coaches and it shows. The only way Iowa wrestling competes for a national title with Tom as coach is to clean house on the coaching staff and have Tom be more administrative versus day-to-day. Hire a strong head assistant outside the Iowa program and let that individual run the day-to-day. Unfortunately, I do not see Tom ever not being heavily involved in the day-to-day and running things. The person to hire to replace Tom Brands was David Taylor. I always felt he would be an outstanding coach. Here is a great wrestler who is very intelligent and personable and is also an outstanding technician. Iowa should have reached out to David Taylor for, at least, a discussion when it was known he was looking to coach. I guarantee David Taylor takes that call.
 

FanInBlack

All-Conference
Nov 9, 2001
1,789
3,765
113
Well someone had to reach out and start the relationship building. Someone had to alert Tom to their presence and push him to recruit them. They might not have committed to Iowa to come be with M* but they'd have likely never gotten the opportunity otherwise... or at the very least had the ball start rolling if not for him.
this exactly. Somewhere the message that recruiting would be worse without * turned into * is the worlds greatest recruiter.

He is the best recruiter they allow on their staff and it would be worse without him. Thats it. He actually builds relationships.

People can name a million guys who would be better and be right. But if they will not work for or be hired by Tom its pointless.
 

Trapper85

Senior
Jun 22, 2020
171
613
93
I strongly disagree with the assertation that the ability to recruit is tied to being a coaching genius. Since you brought up David Taylor, I will use him as an example to illustrate what I'm saying.

Since he's been at Okie State, they've signed 18 HS wrestlers over two recruiting classes. 6 of them were committed to Oklahoma State prior to Taylor being hired. The only top 50 kid from that group was LeDarion Lockett. So of the 12 signees that he actually recruited, 5 committed to Oklahoma State before he ever coached his first collegiate match and another 2 committed before he coached his first NCAA tournament. All 7 of those were top 50 kids and 4 were top 10. None of them had any clue what kind of college coach that Taylor was going to be...I'm still not entirely sure anyone knows what kind of college coach he's going to be.

What they knew was that he was an Olympic champion, 3-time World champion, who was in the NCAA finals 4 straight years and had won a couple of NCAA national titles. He was extremely personal and charismatic that allowed him to engage with a wide variety of different people.

He also hired these guys to coach with him:
Jimmy Kennedy-AHC-3X AA with a 5-year international wrestling career
Thomas Gilman-AC-2x AA, Olympic bronze, World gold, and 2 world silvers over a over a 7-year international wrestling career
Bryan Pearsall-Rec. Coordinator-3x NCAA qualifier, 3x B1G champion

Not one of those dudes had any idea if that staff could coach at all, but they knew that the staff knew how to wrestle at a high level (not necessarily transferrable to coaching FWIW) and they were all extremely charismatic and engaging. That is a resume that is not that dissimilar from Dan Gable, Tom Brands, John Smith, or Cael Sanderson. Guys with slightly less fanfare that have made similar transitions include Sammie Henson, Cary Kolat, Kerry McCoy, Doug Schwab, and Chris Bono. It's a formula that works.
Agree with pretty much everything, though not sure I'd have included Gilman in the charismatic category!
 
  • Like
Reactions: BroncHawk

kingstown

All-Conference
Dec 7, 2025
627
1,955
93
Agree with pretty much everything, though not sure I'd have included Gilman in the charismatic category!
Gilman is a different breed for certain. There are guys he has helped that really love him. Spratley,RBY, and SVN are a few who sing his praise. I think Gilman carries the Brands mentality where he is all in for you or all in against you. If Nolf ever did become head coach at Iowa I would not be shocked if Gilman joined him at some point if Spencer didn't want to be on staff. Nolf is very close to Spencer and Gilman. I still think a staff that included Nolf,Spencer, and Trent Hidley would be really hard to beat in terms of coaching every style and drawing recruits.
 

GLC1969

Junior
Jul 3, 2025
107
210
43
I dont get all the talk about Spencer being a coach. What do see masking him a good coach?
He seems to fit the Iowa room. Has been injured numerous times. Hasn’t he said he has no desire to coach. Good wrestlers do not always make good coaches. He’s is still competing do fans really want to wait until 2029? It might be too late to bring the program back.
 

luthius dagan

Senior
Jun 30, 2025
120
570
93
I dont get all the talk about Spencer being a coach. What do see masking him a good coach?
He seems to fit the Iowa room. Has been injured numerous times. Hasn’t he said he has no desire to coach. Good wrestlers do not always make good coaches. He’s is still competing do fans really want to wait until 2029? It might be too late to bring the program back.
I think it's he has that "star power," these current wrestlers grew up idolizing him. He's Bo Bassett's favorite wrestler for example. So much like wrestling for DT at Okie State is "cool" and they are getting high impact recruits to challenge PSU, Lee at Iowa would get us some much needed recruits.

I think he might be better as Associate Head if Dake wants the Head Coach job.

But Lee being a 3x NCAA Champ, 4x AA, Olympic Silver medalist and (hopefully) Olympic Gold medalist in 2028 makes him a great replacement for the Brands. Plus he's young and can do the job for a long time (assuming he does it well). He's the obvious choice. The question is who is the other 3 to compliment the skills he might lack as a coach.

My dream team would be: HC Dake, AH Lee, AC Yianni, AC Mocco. I think Lee preparing out light weights, Mocco our heavyweights, and Dake and Yianni our middle weights would be good. Especially Yianni with our light middle weighs 141-157 where we have been slacking. also Yianni teaches the room how to scramble, Lee and Mocco teach the Iowa heavyhands toughness, and Dake steers the ship overall. Plus the whole Dake v Taylor rivalry is also a good storyline to continue the Iowa v Okie State rivalry.
 

Nashville_Hawk

All-Conference
Dec 31, 2015
691
1,812
93
What is the issue with a lot of fans excusing Tom Brands of responsibility for the current state of Iowa wrestling? So many people blame Morningstar and Telford. It starts at the top. Tom Brands is the reason Iowa wrestling is where it is at today. I heard through a reliable source years ago when Iowa brought in coaches from the outside the Iowa program, Tom would not let them introduce new ideas, training methods, etc. The comment told to me from Tom was "We do it this way." If true, would that really surprise anyone? It does not matter who you bring in as an assistant if they are not allowed to coach to their abilities and what they excel in. If you look at the staff, they are clones of each other. There is no variety in the coaches and it shows. The only way Iowa wrestling competes for a national title with Tom as coach is to clean house on the coaching staff and have Tom be more administrative versus day-to-day. Hire a strong head assistant outside the Iowa program and let that individual run the day-to-day. Unfortunately, I do not see Tom ever not being heavily involved in the day-to-day and running things. The person to hire to replace Tom Brands was David Taylor. I always felt he would be an outstanding coach. Here is a great wrestler who is very intelligent and personable and is also an outstanding technician. Iowa should have reached out to David Taylor for, at least, a discussion when it was known he was looking to coach. I guarantee David Taylor takes that call.
What was the latest poll vote? 63% thinks Tom should be out? I don't think that number has changed so I'm thinking there are about 63% who have no interest in excusing Tom of responsibility for where we're at. It sounds more like folks are aiming at the low hanging fruit since they seem confident Tom aint going anywhere for at least another year...during which we will suck even worse. Ugh! No, I think 63% - or whatever the number is - still want Tom gone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: el dub

WEH8ST8HAWK

Senior
Jan 31, 2004
4,548
594
113
Didn't he just help land a great recruiting class?

What is the issue with a lot of fans excusing Tom Brands of responsibility for the current state of Iowa wrestling? So many people blame Morningstar and Telford. It starts at the top. Tom Brands is the reason Iowa wrestling is where it is at today. I heard through a reliable source years ago when Iowa brought in coaches from the outside the Iowa program, Tom would not let them introduce new ideas, training methods, etc. The comment told to me from Tom was "We do it this way." If true, would that really surprise anyone? It does not matter who you bring in as an assistant if they are not allowed to coach to their abilities and what they excel in. If you look at the staff, they are clones of each other. There is no variety in the coaches and it shows. The only way Iowa wrestling competes for a national title with Tom as coach is to clean house on the coaching staff and have Tom be more administrative versus day-to-day. Hire a strong head assistant outside the Iowa program and let that individual run the day-to-day. Unfortunately, I do not see Tom ever not being heavily involved in the day-to-day and running things. The person to hire to replace Tom Brands was David Taylor. I always felt he would be an outstanding coach. Here is a great wrestler who is very intelligent and personable and is also an outstanding technician. Iowa should have reached out to David Taylor for, at least, a discussion when it was known he was looking to coach. I guarantee David Taylor takes that call.
In the recent past, numerous guys on here would never blame Tom or anyone else on the Staff for anything. That has changed a lot over the last 2 years. It is now likely that 70% of Iowa wrestling fans want Tom and the assistants gone. The apologists are few and far between now.
 
Jul 7, 2025
95
235
33
Beth needs to fund a recruiting coordinator position and make a big commitment to Rev share.

Then the main focus of fans/donors is to fund the heck out of HWC to start making it a top club. Lee, Desanto, and Buchanan are not enough.
 

Trapper85

Senior
Jun 22, 2020
171
613
93
There’s no planet where this works and it is weird you’re unable to recognize this.
If the reason is that EITHER TnT and/or (JB, Nolf, or any other potential HC) are unwilling to work together, and it's not just because of some truly deep/real bad personal blood, then my response is simple. I don't want ANY close-minded stubborn individual on staff. Not a good leadership trait, find someone who has humility, much more apt to stay relevant over the long haul.
 

LIV4GOD

All-Conference
Oct 2, 2001
487
1,163
93
What was the latest poll vote? 63% thinks Tom should be out? I don't think that number has changed so I'm thinking there are about 63% who have no interest in excusing Tom of responsibility for where we're at. It sounds more like folks are aiming at the low hanging fruit since they seem confident Tom aint going anywhere for at least another year...during which we will suck even worse. Ugh! No, I think 63% - or whatever the number is - still want Tom gone.
64.6% want him gone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nashville_Hawk

el dub

All-Conference
Nov 2, 2005
562
1,446
93
That's why I'd love to find a way to get a new exciting college coach AND move T and/or T to HWC with Bob's money there. Build it strong for a few years, then they retire, Spencer or somebody takes over.
Seriously? You must be living on the dark side of the moon.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nashville_Hawk

LIV4GOD

All-Conference
Oct 2, 2001
487
1,163
93
A sources battle-off. A made-for-the-internet moment...
 

cwobrien11

Heisman
Apr 22, 2009
19,898
34,157
77
These things wouldn't be happening now . The timing is odd. If something is happening it would be news to me
It would be unusual for a change to be formally announced right now, but it wouldn't be odd for the back-channel stuff to be happening/done and a review of potential contract terms to have happened especially if we are talking about an assistant coaching position. Probably not with a HC though.
 

Corby2

All-American
Jul 14, 2025
3,420
7,349
113
It would be unusual for a change to be formally announced right now, but it wouldn't be odd for the back-channel stuff to be happening/done and a review of potential contract terms to have happened especially if we are talking about an assistant coaching position. Probably not with a HC though.
Yes but that would mean an interview and the candidate being on campus. No one has been on campus that I have heard of
 

cwobrien11

Heisman
Apr 22, 2009
19,898
34,157
77
Yes but that would mean an interview and the candidate being on campus. No one has been on campus that I have heard of
I will admit that I don't know enough about wrestling coaches searches as I do for football, basketball, and baseball...but it's not uncommon in those sports to either meet digitally (teams, zoom, whatever) or to meet at a completely separate location (i.e. coach is out recruiting, potential other coach is also out recruiting and they meet at a hotel). If it's just back channel stuff, that may just be some calls and things like that. There wouldn't be a contract given necessarily and no one would have signed squat.
 

Rusty’s Dad

Redshirt
Jun 19, 2015
58
34
18
I dont get all the talk about Spencer being a coach. What do see masking him a good coach?
He seems to fit the Iowa room. Has been injured numerous times. Hasn’t he said he has no desire to coach. Good wrestlers do not always make good coaches. He’s is still competing do fans really want to wait until 2029? It might be too late to bring the program back.
Spencer has indeed said he would like to get into coaching (he said it on a podcast a couple of years ago - can’t remember which one)…
 

Stick Kitty

All-Conference
Jul 7, 2025
438
1,110
93
Mocco on staff is my guess.

Be my guess too. M* wouldn't be replaced so Steve is coming in to help his buddies try to save their jobs for a year plus his boy is coming. Its a good move but doesn't check all my boxes. Good to have hm around Ben too. About as good as Tom could do considering he wasn't going anywhere outside of a short short list because of his control issues.

So yeah its probably 100% done and Telford has said he is moving on and Beth could interview by phone and grant Tom's request and still not really cause any disruption with next week
 

Hawkfan1986

Senior
Mar 26, 2019
144
657
93
He's the one who's gotten the recruits they've now and the ones who are coming. The development piece not sure how much of that is his fault. Partners is what matters not coaches training with the guys . RTC athletes are important and need to be a focus.
Oklahoma st had Gator WC and Penn st has NLWC and Gable has the best club. Having a good club means having a good college team. Guys typically don't jump big levels unless someone better is around to wrestle with daily.
If he’s responsible for all of our recruits then why do we need tom and Terry?