March 30, 200620 yr Since i know you all care so much :mischief IOWA CITY - University of Iowa Director of Athletics Bob Bowlsby announced Wednesday that Jim Zalesky's contract as head coach of the UI wrestling program will not be renewed and that the search for his replacement will begin immediately. Zalesky, a four-time all-American and a three-time NCAA champion for the UI in the early 1980s, just completed his ninth season as head coach of the Hawkeyes. Iowa finished in sixth place at the 2006 Big Ten Conference Championships and in fourth place at this year's NCAA Championships. Iowa did not have an individual champion at either event for the second consecutive year. "As we do each year with every sport, we have completed an evaluation of all aspects of our wrestling program. This year's process comes in the aftermath of one of our least successful dual meet seasons in recent history and after our lowest finish in the Big Ten Championship in 39 years," said Bowlsby. "Regretfully, we have come to the conclusion that it is time for new leadership within our wrestling program. Fred Mims and I have met with Jim and his staff and we notified them that we will immediately commence the search to identify and hire that new leadership." "I want to thank Jim and his staff for their efforts and I want to acknowledge the success they have helped to achieve," added Bowlsby. "Unfortunately, at this point in time it is not arguable that we are making the kind of progress that will once again place our program among the elite in the sport." "I have the utmost respect for Jim and his staff," said Mims, an associate athletics director at the UI and the staff member to whom Zalesky reports on a daily basis. "Jim has contributed much to the athletics program at the University of Iowa as a student-athlete and as a member of our coaching staff. It is unfortunate that in recent years the program has not met the expectations we all have for wrestling at the UI." Zalesky's teams compiled a 127-34 dual meet record, a mark that included wins in 56 of 75 matches against Big Ten opponents. However, Iowa's dual meet records in 2005-06 were 11-7 overall and 4-4 against league opponents. This year's record against Big Ten opponents follows records of 5-3 in 2004-05, 6-2 in 2003-04 and 7-1 in 2002-03. Iowa won the national championship in each of Zalesky's first three seasons (1998, 1999 and 2000) as the UI's head coach. The Hawkeyes finished second in 2001 and again in 2004. Iowa finished in seventh place in the 2005 national meet. "We will move just as quickly and efficiently as we can to focus on those candidates around the country who possess the talent and experience to lead our program back to its traditional position of prominence within the Big Ten and at the national level," said Bowlsby. Wrong coach was let go.. but Zalesky needed to go. We are not at the level we were when the man the myth the legend was our coach. Zalesky was a HELL of a wrestler at Iowa so I wish the best of luck. Breaking news: Douglas out, Sanderson in at Iowa State DAN MCCOOL AND TOM WITOSKY REGISTER STAFF WRITERS Copyright 2006, Des Moines Register March 29, 2006 Iowa State has replaced wrestling coach Bobby Douglas with associate head coach and Cyclone legend Cael Sanderson. Douglas, who was in his 14th season as Iowa State's coach, disclosed the change in his employment status today. "Cael is the new coach at Iowa State," Douglas said. "I am no longer the coach." The reason for the change was not immediately clear, although Iowa State officials told the Register two weeks ago that they planned to position Sanderson as their eventual coach because they knew other programs would attempt to lure him away. "It's everybody's intent, at some point in time in the future, that Cael will be our head coach," Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard said then. Pollard could not be reached for comment this afternoon. Department officials said a news conference will be held at 11 a.m. Friday to "announce the retirement of Bobby Douglas as head coach and hiring of Cael Sanderson as the new head coach." Iowa State officials said after being contacted by the Register that they expected to put out a press release ? possibly as soon as 7 p.m. Sanderson, 26, was a four-time NCAA champion wrestler and the 2004 Olympic freestyle gold medalist. He will inherit a wrestling squad that finished in 13th in the most recent NCAA championships and fourth out of five schools in the Big 12 Conference championships. Sanderson also could not be reached for comment, but said earlier this month that he would like the opportunity to be Iowa State's head coach. "I'm an alumnus here and I love Iowa State," Sanderson said. "It's been home for a long time, so Iowa State is obviously my first choice." Douglas will leave the Cyclone's head coaching job after 33 years as a head wrestling at three different schools. Douglas began his career in 1973-74 at University of California-Santa Barbara, spent 19 years as head coach at Arizona State and his final 14 seasons at Iowa State. During his tenure at Iowa State, Douglas compiled a 198-75-3 dual meet record, but never won the NCAA team championship. The Cyclones best team finish was second place in 2002, 2000, and 1996. Wow.. guess we didn't get another gable.. damn!
March 30, 200620 yr isnt Sanderson like the greatest collegiate wrestler ever? *didnt read article* yeah i think he went undefeated or something close to that hes definitely the only college wrestler i could ever name
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