Logan Stieber, the most decorated wrestler in Ohio State history, will join the Buckeyes' staff as a coach following April's Olympic Trails, head coach Tom Ryan announced today. He will bring with him 119 career victories, four national championships, a Hodge Trophy and a team national title. And if things go well in April, a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team.
“I am very excited to be joining the Buckeye staff next year,†said Stieber. “I love Ohio State, so it's a dream come true that I can start my coaching career here as well as pursue my Olympic dreams. I'm excited to be able to work with the current and future student athletes. I think with my knowledge and experience I can help the Buckeyes continue to win on and off the mat.â€
The addition of Stieber's to Ryan's coaching staff give the Buckeyes a collective six national titles, seven NCAA finals appearances and 11 All-America honors amongst its four coaches. When World champion Kyle Snyder and Olympian Trevel Dlaganov are included, the Buckeyes' wrestling room is the only one in the country that includes a four time NCAA champion, a World champion and an Olympian.
“Logan has been a tremendous example here as a student-athlete,†said Ryan. “He completed one of the most illustrious careers in both Ohio high school history [four state titles] and NCAA history by winning four Big Ten and NCAA championships while leading the Buckeyes to our first team title. Hopefully Olympic glory is next. I am excited for the current and future student athletes that will have the opportunity to learn from Logan.
“I also want to thank Ross Thatcher for his years of work with the program,†Ryan continued. “He had a tremendous influence on bringing our first NCAA team title to Ohio State as well as he mentored our upper weights, especially Nick Heflin and Kyle Snyder. He will be looking to continue to help young, aspiring champions as he builds a top notch wrestling academy.â€
Thatcher served on Ohio State's staff in two different occasions – first as volunteer strength and conditioning coach from 2005-08 and then as a coach from 2011-12 through 2015-16. A graduate of Bishop Ready High School, Thatcher has had successful coaching stops at his alma mater, Penn State, Oklahoma and Ohio State.
Stieber's collegiate career is unmatched, as he won every major individual award and added the ultimate team accomplishment last March – the Buckeyes' first-ever NCAA team title. Combined with four state titles he won at Monroeville High School, Stieber was 303-4 in high school and college with eight individual championships and two team titles. He won 96 of his 119 matches for the Scarlet and Gray via bonus points (80.6%). At last March's NCAA Championships, he etched his place is history by winning won four of five matches by a combined score of 57-9 and added a first period pin in his other win.
Prior to beginning his coaching duties, Stieber will look to punch his ticket to the Summer Olympic Games in Rio at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials April 8-10 at Carver Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. He earned a spot there by finishing second at last month's U.S. Senior Nationals in the 65kg weight class.
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