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    Mark Palmer •

    Photo: Photo/Mark Beshey

    Takedown Report reveals all-time winningest college coaches

    Dale Thomas
    A measure of success in college wrestling for individuals and programs is total number of wins. The same can be said for collegiate wrestling coaches at all levels -- NCAA Division I, II and III, as well as NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) and NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association).

    As wrestling fans anticipate the 2015-16 season, Martin Fleming of the website Takedown Report has updated his list of all-time winningest college mat coaches who have compiled at least 240 wins over the course of their careers. Over 100 coaches have earned at least that many career victories as of the end of last season; InterMat has chosen to show the top 25 here. Individuals listed in bold are still actively coaching.

    Coach's name/School/Number of Wins/Collegiate division
    1. Dale Thomas (Oregon State) 616 -- NCAA Division I
    2. Jare Klein (Olivet College) 569 -- III
    3. Pat Pecora (Pitt-Johnstown) 540 -- II
    4. David Icenhower (College of New Jersey) 534 -- III
    5. John Reese (Wilkes Univ.) 515 -- I/III
    6. Jack Childs (Drexel) 512 -- I / NJCAA
    7. Bill Racich (Ursinus College) 499 -- III
    8. Harold Nichols (Iowa St.) 493 -- I
    9. Max Servcies (Wabash) 487 -- III
    10. Doug Parker (Springfield, Mass) 485 -- III
    11. Arthur "Bucky" Maughan (North Dakota State) 467 -- II / I
    12. Milton Martin (Westmar) 462 -- NAIA
    13. Don Elia (Carson-Newman) 461 -- II
    14. Ron Mirikitani (Meramec --St. Louis) 457 -- NJCCA
    15. John Sacchi (Rutgers/Middlesex) 447 -- I/NJCAA
    16. Ned McGinley (King's College) 442 -- III
    17. Bobby Douglas (Iowa St./Cal St. Santa Barbara/Ariz. State) 440 -- I
    18. John Johnston (Princeton/Stevens Tech) 431 -- I/NJCAA
    19. J Robinson (Minnesota) 430 -- I
    20. Mike Olson (UNC-Pembroke/Upper Iowa/Monmouth) 428 -- II/III
    21. T.J. Kerr (U. Calif. Bakersfield/San Jose St.) 421 -- I
    22. Gary Taylor (Rider) 417 -- I
    23. Tom Jarman (Manchester/Northwestern/Taylor) 415 -- I/III
    24. Phil Grebinar (Worcester Poly Tech.) 414 -- III
    25. Jim Miller (Wartburg) 413 -- III

    Among the best-known coaches a bit further down the list: current Oklahoma State coach John Smith (No. 37 on the list, with 369 career wins to date), retired University of Iowa coach Dan Gable (No. 39, 356 wins), and Rob Koll, presently coaching at Cornell University (No. 96, 260 victories).

    The entire list is available online. For corrections and updates, please contact Martin Fleming directly at martinkfleming@gmail.com.
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