It's a long, grueling season that covers several months and runs over two semesters.
And with the tough, demanding schedule, coaches face more than their share of challenges during the course of a season.
The 2019-20 season has seen its share of obstacles that coaches have had to overcome with their teams.
Here are some of the top coaching performances at the NCAA Division I level at this point in the season:
Tom Brands, Iowa
The Hawkeyes had an excellent first half of the season, powering to a record-setting performance at the Midlands Championships. Iowa has a loaded roster, led by two-time NCAA champion Spencer Lee (125 pounds). The Hawkeyes have seven wrestlers ranked in the top four. Lee and Pat Lugo (149) are both ranked No. 1. Iowa is hungry and determined to capture its first NCAA team title in 10 years. Brands has his team on track for a special season.
Zeke Jones guided ASU to a dual meet win over Penn State (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Zeke Jones, Arizona State
The former U.S. National Coach continues to build his program in Tempe. The Sun Devils earned a huge early season dual meet win over Penn State. Senior Zahid Valencia leads the way for ASU. He is seeking his third national title after moving up a weight class to 184 this season. The Sun Devils are definitely a program on the rise under the guidance of one of the nation's best coaches in Jones.
Mark Manning talks to Isaiah White at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Mark Manning, Nebraska
Manning may have one of his best teams in Lincoln. The Huskers aren't a team of superstars, but they are strong up and down the lineup. Nebraska showed that when it won the team title at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. Manning's team could definitely earn a trophy in late March. The Huskers have proven wrestlers in Chad Red, Isaiah White, Mikey Labriola and Taylor Venz. They could score a bunch of points at the NCAA tournament.
Pat Popolizio, North Carolina State
The Wolfpack have continued to excel with another strong roster. Hayden Hidlay has been dominant this season and he definitely looks poised to make a run at the 157-pound national title. His brother, Trent, hasn't been bad either. He is a freshman who is ranked third nationally at 184 pounds. Trent Hidlay won a Junior world bronze medal in 2019.
Tony Ersland coaching the finals of the Midlands Championships (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com)Tony Ersland, Purdue
The former Nebraska assistant has recruited well and now has his best team at Purdue. Ersland has four wrestlers -- Devin Schroder (125), Kendall Coleman (157), Dylan Lydy (174) and Christian Brunner (197) -- ranked in the top eight nationally. Purdue finished fifth at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and eighth at the Midlands. The Boilermakers have the potential to score their share of points at the national tournament.
Chris Ayres, Princeton
The Tigers have had a superb season and continue to hold their own against top-flight competition. Third-ranked Pat Glory, who earned a championship at the Midlands, is a tough matchup for anyone in the 125-pound weight class. Patrick Brucki is ranked third at 197 and Quincy Monday is fifth at 157.
Cael Sanderson, Penn State
The Nittany Lions suffered an upset loss to Arizona State and have lost returning national champion heavyweight Anthony Cassar to an injury. But Cael Sanderson's team still has the firepower to win a national title in March. The loaded Nittany Lion lineup still features two-time NCAA champion Vincenzo Joseph (165) and NCAA champion Mark Hall (174) along with All-Americans Nick Lee (141) and Shakur Rasheed (197). Third-ranked Roman Bravo-Young (133) and newcomer Aaron Brooks (184) have the potential to place high at NCAAs.
Doug Schwab coaching at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Doug Schwab, Northern Iowa
The energetic Schwab coached his first national champion at UNI last season with Drew Foster and the Panthers have built off that momentum this season. UNI is coming off a strong second-place showing at the Midlands where Taylor Lujan (184) won a title and Bryce Steiert (174) placed second. The Panthers also have All-American Max Thomsen (149) in their lineup. Hes ranked seventh.
Brandon Eggum, Minnesota
The Gophers have made a recent jump in the rankings with standout All-American Gable Steveson returning to the team at heavyweight. He has an excellent shot at winning NCAAs as a sophomore. Senior All-American Mitch McKee (141) is ranked third nationally for the Golden Gophers.
Tom Ryan, Ohio State
The Buckeyes continue to thrive despite having to retool their lineup again this season. Top-ranked wrestlers Luke Pletcher (141) and Kollin Moore (197) have had outstanding seasons for Ohio State. The Buckeyes are rounding into form again as we move closer to March. Ryan's teams have had a knack for peaking when the stakes are highest.
Kevin Dresser, Iowa State
The Cyclones definitely have the capability of finishing strong. Superstar freshman David Carr, a Junior world champion, is ranked third at 157 for Dressers third ISU team. Returning All-American Jarrett Degen (149) also has the potential to place high. Teammates Alex Mackall (125), Sam Colbray (184) and Gannon Gremmel (285) also could make a run at the NCAA medal podium.
Chris Bono, Wisconsin
The Badgers continue to build under enthusiastic second-year coach Chris Bono. Transfer Seth Gross, a 2018 NCAA champion for South Dakota State, is now ranked No. 1 nationally at 133 after winning a tough weight class at the Midlands. Two-time All-American Evan Wick is ranked fifth at 165 and heavyweight Trent Hillger is ranked sixth.
Craig Sesker has written about wrestling for more than three decades. He's covered three Olympic Games and is a two-time national wrestling writer of the year.
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