Answering your legit questions.

So the question is...How many coaches does Iowa wrestling have?

That's a good question. It gets kind of confusing whether you're in the Dan Gable Wrestling Room during practice or if you're watching an actual match, but here's the technical titles of the "coaches":

Head Coach: Tom Brands
Assistant Coach: Terry Brands
Assistant Coach: Doug Schwab
Volunteer Assistant Coach: Mike Zadick
Strength and Conditioning Coach: Jared Frayer
Administrative Assistant: Luke Eustice

It's interesting because Tom Brands doesn't sit and watch every match. Usually only two coaches can be on the mat, so they all take turns - which shows an element of team work, I'd say.
There are a ton of alumni who come back and practice every week with the wrestlers. And some of these...helpers, if you will, also compete in freestyle matches. The coaches actually compete in the freestyle matches too, some of them anyways. In fact Volunteer Assistant Coach Mike Zadick won a national title at the freestyle championships in Las Vegas last weekend. In case you missed out on that, here's an article.

It's also interesting that Doug Schwab and Jared Frayer are in the same weight class as Brent Metcalf. It'll be interesting to see down the road if they ever end up competing for the national title against one another.


It's interesting in that aspect - when teammates end up competing against each other. I thought Coach Brands would have some insight on this because of his twin brother and all. So I asked him whether he looked at Terry more as a brother or as a teammate. This was his answer:


COACH BRANDS: "I mean you’re loyal to blood first so when it came right down to it, but against each other it wasn’t he’s my brother it doesn’t matter if I win or lose. Here’s a guy trying to take away something that I want and my god he’s gonna pay. That type of thing. A lot of different relationships out there in the world – and ours’ was unique in that way – very loyal but also very competitive when it came right down to it. In the end, that’s definitely what has served us best. We made the finals in several tournaments together – never forfeited or were co champions – never. It was as important to win that tournament whether it was your brother or not and then when it was over you went back to work with him again. And that’s a unique relationship but it served us very well because when it comes down to whether you do the right thing every time…this guy does the right thing every time. And even if the decision is wrong, you’re disciplined enough that you run it through your head enough that you know that at least you gave it your best shot to make it right. There were no short cuts. I believe that’s pretty unique. "


With Brands, you never get a one word answer.


Bottom line though, Iowa has a great wrestling program and part of that is because of the coaches and the helpers who come out and dedicate themselves to the team.

Anymore questions?

Photo is one I took at NCAAs...Mike Zadick and Tom Brands