Kevin Dresser was named NWCA Coach of the Year in 2016 (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Virginia Tech head wrestling coach Kevin Dresser appears to be headed to his home state of Iowa to become head coach at Iowa State.
Dresser, a native of Humboldt, Iowa and former University of Iowa wrestler, has accepted the position at the Ames, Iowa school, the Iowa State Daily student newspaper reported Saturday afternoon.
The paper cited a "source close to the wrestling program" but did not name the source.
The Iowa State head coaching position became available when current coach Kevin Jackson had announced January 31 that he would be leaving at the end of the season. The Cyclones are 1-11 this season. Despite recent hard times, Iowa State ranks third in terms of number of NCAA team titles with eight, behind only Oklahoma State and the Iowa Hawkeyes.
With the news of Jackson's impending departure, three top recruits -- Austin Gomez, Jake Allar, and Ethan Smith -- had announced they were seeking release from their commitments. Dresser would have limited time to have them stay with their original decision to wrestle at the Big 12 school.
Dresser would finish out the season at Virginia Tech, according to the Iowa State Daily.
The 54-year-old Dresser would be returning to somewhat familiar territory, having been born in Fort Dodge, Iowa -- about 40 miles northwest of the Iowa State campus -- and raised in nearby Humboldt, hometown to Frank Gotch, early 1900s professional wrestling champ whose popularity is credited with the growth of amateur wrestling in mid-America. Dresser was a two-time Iowa high school state champion, compiling an overall record of 112-11-1.
Dresser continued his athletic and academic career at the University of Iowa, wrestling for Dan Gable. He was a two-time Big Ten champion and 142-pound titlewinner at the 1986 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. That same year, Dresser was presented with the Mike Howard Award as the most valuable wrestler for the Hawkeyes that season.
After graduation, Dresser stayed at Iowa, serving as an assistant coach under Gable. He then set off on his own as a high school coach in Virginia, first at Grundy High School, then at Christiansburg High.
Dresser took the helm of the Virginia Tech wrestling program in April 2006. During his time in Blacksburg, Dresser has guided the Hokies to a 142-50 record, with two ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) team championships. In recent years, Virginia Tech has sent at least eight wrestlers to the NCAAs. The program is currently ranked No. 5 by InterMat in both the tournament rankings and dual meet rankings.
More to come …
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