Bob DarrahThe Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa was begun in 2002 as a way to further recognize and honor the people who have made an impact on the Iowa Wrestling scene.
Darrah was the head coach at Morning Sun (1961-67), Urbandale (1967-69), and Dowling Catholic High Schools (1969-89). In 27 years on the prep level, Darrah's teams went undefeated 17 times and did not have a losing record. In his final 11 years at Dowling, the Maroons went 161-1 and won the first three state dual meet championships (1987-89). Dowling won four state championships (1975, 1978, 1984, 1988). The Maroons were second five times at the state tournament. Dowling won the 3A State Tournament Qualifying meet 17 years in a row. He led four of his Dowling wrestlers to five US Federation High School Freestyle Championships (Jeff Carter, two times, Perry Hummel, Tim Anderson, and Kurt Engler).
For his efforts, Darrah was named the 1977 Iowa Class 3A Coach of the Year, the 1988 Amateur Wrestling News High School Coach of the Year, and the 1990 National High School Athletic Coaches Association National Coach of the Year. He also coached the Iowa Federation Wrestling team for 21 years. His high school teams posted a 340-17-2 record. His 340 dual wins are the second most in Iowa high school history. Darrah held all office of the Iowa High School Wrestling Coaches Association, serving two terms as president.
Darrah also organized All-Star dual meets between wrestles from Iowa and Pennsylvania and those duals were held in conjunction with the Penn vs USA All-Star meets at the University of Pittsburgh Fieldhouse.
Darrah served as the head wrestling coach at Simpson from 1989-1995 where he compiled an 86-25-1 record and one Iowa Conference Championship (1991). Five of his wrestlers were named All-Americans and one was a two-time National Champion (Travis Young). He was voted Iowa Conference Wrestling Coach of the Year in 1991. His contributions to the program continue to be remembers as in 1996, the practice facility at Simpson was renamed the Darrah Wrestling Room.
Simpson has won 87 of 192 meets (a .453 winning percentage) in which they have entered since Darrah took over the team. Darrah has been named Iowa Conference Women's Golf Coach of the Year 10 times and has led the Storm to eight league titles.
Since 1989, Simpson has finished second at the national women's golf tournament (either NCAA or NCGA) three times, two third place finishes, and one fourth place showing. Simpson golfers have posted 55 All-Conference performances with four; Tracey Voss (1994), Leah Willenborg (1994, 1995, 1996), Hannah Willenborg (1998, 2000), and Fay Bradley (2000), earning All-American honors. Voss earned Academic All-American honors on two occasions as well. In 1994, Leah Willenborg became the first Division III player from Iowa to compete at the NCAA Division I National Championships. Both Leah and Hannah Willenborg were awarded NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarships.
Darrah also served as the Simpson's men's golf coach from 1994-1998 where his teams finished in the upper division of the conference every year and one player, Jordan Dirks, earned All-Conference honors.
This is the seventh Hall of Fame that Darrah will be a member of. He is currently a member of the Iowa High School, Dowling Catholic High School, Westmar College (charter member), Chariton High School, Iowa Wrestling Federation (Cresco, Iowa), and National Wrestling Hall of Fames.
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