Photo Courtesy : Tony Rotundo / Wrestlersarewarrios.com
Per IAwrestle sources close to the Iowa State program the final two positions on the Cyclone staff will be former Hawkeyes Mike Zadick and Brent Metcalf. IAwrestle broke the news last week that Derek St. John would be joining the staff. There will be an official press conference tomorrow to announce the news at 1 p.m..
Zadick comes to Iowa State after coaching the last two seasons at Virginia Tech under coach Dresser. During his time with the Hokies the team put in two top ten finishes at the National tournament – 4th in 2016 and 6th in 2017 – and were ACC conference champions in 2017 season as well. Zadick began his Hokie career as the volunteer coach, before moving into the paid assistant role this past season. St. John would later fill Virginia Tech’s volunteer assistant role. Zadick officially will be the Associate Head Coach.
As a competitor, Zadick was a star wrestler while competing at the University of Iowa earning three All-American honors, and won a Big Ten title in 2002 at 149 pounds. Zadick went on to make four World Teams including the 2008 Olympic squad. Zadick also served as a coach at Iowa, working as a volunteer assistant from 2004-06 and then again from 2009-10. From 2006-08 he served as the Hawkeyes strength and conditioning coach.
St. John joined Virginia Tech at the same time as Zadick, starting in the Director of Operations role before moving into the volunteer assistant job last season. St. John was a four-time NCAA All-American under Iowa coach Tom Brands, the first wrestler to accomplish the feat that was recruited by Brands. St. John then went on to coach at North Dakota State for the 2014-15 season, where he helped Rodger Kish lead the Bison to a Western Wrestling Conference title and helped coach two wrestlers onto the All-American stand.
Metcalf joins the staff in his first college coaching role. After completing a storied wrestling career for the Hawkeyes, Metcalf quickly made himself known on the U.S. Senior Freestyle circuit, making his first World Team in 2010, just a few short months after he won his second NCAA title. Metcalf would go on to make three more World Teams in 2013, 2014, and 2015. In the summer it was announced that Metcalf would serve as an assistant coach for Cedar Rapids Prairie, followed by a fall announcement that Metcalf planned to join USA Wrestling coaching staff as the Developmental coach starting full-time in May, 2017. Metcalf will now forego the USA Wrestling opportunity in favor of the Iowa State position.
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After the lack of success with a gold medalist and twin all Americans, I would be happy with Jack the Ripper.