Jimmy Cinnabon Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 (edited) From reading Iowa message boards its seems like most Hawkeye fans favor Spencer Lee to be the Iowa Head Coach once Tommy B hangs 'em up. I get Spencer is great and all, has his own "Spencer Lee" tab on the Iowa wrestling webpage, but he's still a college student who is only now going into his final year. He's a 25 year old kid who I think still plans on competing for Olympic gold and World medals, if his body isn't completely spent from college wrestling. Iowa has such a rich history of wrestlers who are at the same level as Spencer in terms of NCAA accolades, have Olympic and World level medals, and actual high school or college coaching experience. Why wouldn't one of those guys be the front runner rather than Spencer? As a Penn State fan, even during the David Taylor years and complete and utter lovefest with the Magic Man, I can't recall Penn State fans clamoring for DT to be Cael's successor while he was still in college. Granted now that Taylor is almost a decade removed from college, a multiple time World champion and Olympic Gold medalist the talk of him coaching seems much more reasonable... Edited November 1, 2022 by Jimmy Cinnabon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ionel Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 I had a bagel again for breakfast this morning. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrestleknownothing Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 I too find it weird. Has Spencer Lee ever even said coaching is one of his goals? The last interview of his I saw, he placed heavy emphasis on international competition, but I don't recall any talk of coaching. Drowning in data, but thirsting for knowledge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Cinnabon Posted November 1, 2022 Author Share Posted November 1, 2022 Just now, Wrestleknownothing said: I too find it weird. Has Spencer Lee ever even said coaching is one of his goals? The last interview of his I saw, he placed heavy emphasis on international competition, but I don't recall any talk of coaching. I don't think he has. I think Iowa fans are just so in love with Spencer that they can't see any of the other logical choices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrestlingshoe Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 I do like Spencer's demeanor in his most current Flow interview. What I like about it is his light hearted, but matter of fact focus on a continued world and Olympic pursuit. That does give Brands time to finish out his tenure, but at the same time Spenser does not have any appearance of focus outside of competing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrestleknownothing Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 1 minute ago, wrestlingshoe said: I do like Spencer's demeanor in his most current Flow interview. What I like about it is his light hearted, but matter of fact focus on a continued world and Olympic pursuit. That does give Brands time to finish out his tenure, but at the same time Spenser does not have any appearance of focus outside of competing. I loved his reaction when asked about wrestling elsewhere. The quizzical look was priceless without being combative. He seems to have a very comfortable relationship with the press. Drowning in data, but thirsting for knowledge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragit Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 1 hour ago, Jimmy Cinnabon said: Iowa has such a rich history of wrestlers who are at the same level as Spencer in terms of NCAA accolades, have Olympic and World level medals, and actual high school or college coaching experience. Why wouldn't one of those guys be the front runner rather than Spencer? Actually not a lot of candidates near his level. Under 45 anyway. And those guys haven't been coaching. I agree that the Spencer fixation is notable. But I think it's understandable. It's been a really tough run since 2011 as PSU has established clear dominance. The one oasis in there has been Lee. He dominates as much or more as the PSU studs. And not only is he at that level as a wrestler, he has also been credited as a leader who drove recruiting and togetherness of their one (two, really, they would have won in 2020) breakthrough during The Decade Of Cael. So he occupies a unique place as a potential Brands successor, which is a relevant issue with Brands already several years older than Gable was at retirement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mspart Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 Brands still has his knees though. Now's here's a question. Would Gable have kept his dominance once Cael went to PSU? That one would be a head scratcher. mspart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Cinnabon Posted November 1, 2022 Author Share Posted November 1, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, dragit said: Actually not a lot of candidates near his level. Under 45 anyway. And those guys haven't been coaching. How about Brent Metcalf? Hawkeye legend, loved just as much by Iowa fans, 3x NCAA champ, World gold medalist, currently coaching at the college level. Why wouldn't he be a more logical choice than Spencer? Edited November 1, 2022 by Jimmy Cinnabon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VakAttack Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 2 hours ago, Wrestleknownothing said: I too find it weird. Has Spencer Lee ever even said coaching is one of his goals? The last interview of his I saw, he placed heavy emphasis on international competition, but I don't recall any talk of coaching. I think he's stated that, post competition, he's more of an administrative focus on being an AD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Cinnabon Posted November 1, 2022 Author Share Posted November 1, 2022 53 minutes ago, VakAttack said: I think he's stated that, post competition, he's more of an administrative focus on being an AD. That's going to disappoint Iowa fans I think, even if he is AD at Iowa. ADs aren't really known for their influence on recruiting in individual sports. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPhillips Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 31 minutes ago, Jimmy Cinnabon said: ADs aren't really known for their influence on recruiting in individual sports. I suppose that can change... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headshuck Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 How about Brent Metcalf? Hawkeye legend, loved just as much by Iowa fans, 3x NCAA champ, World gold medalist, currently coaching at the college level. Why wouldn't he be a more logical choice than Spencer?He’s too tall and wouldn’t fit in Brands’shoes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KCMO2 Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 (edited) Christ, being a good wrestler doesn't automatically make you a good coach. And calling him the heir apparent while he's still in college is just stupid. Edited November 1, 2022 by KCMO2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le duke Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 Christ, being a good wrestler doesn't automatically make you a good coach. And calling him the heir apparent while he's still in college is just stupid. Don’t head over to HR, then. While I agree with you, many a Hawkeye fan does not.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedPanda Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 If he wants to do it (especially if after a stellar international career) who could recruit better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragit Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 3 hours ago, Jimmy Cinnabon said: How about Brent Metcalf? Hawkeye legend, loved just as much by Iowa fans, 3x NCAA champ, World gold medalist, currently coaching at the college level. Why wouldn't he be a more logical choice than Spencer? He's a 2x NCAA champ, Spencer should end up 4. No world medals, lost Olympic trials. Spencer has lots of age group medals and very high potential at senior level if healthy. And Metcalf hasn't had a particularly credentialed coaching career, plus he's estranged from the program at their lesser rival. Doesn't have Spencer Lee level cache. Less logical choice for several years down the road when the job might open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedPanda Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, KCMO2 said: Christ, being a good wrestler doesn't automatically make you a good coach. And calling him the heir apparent while he's still in college is just stupid. That may be true, but ADs seem to believe or assume otherwise. Most top programs have a coach who was an NCAA champ at least once. I doubt there are any top programs whose head coach was not at least an AA. Other sports often have coaches who were not star players or who did not even play D1, a la Belechek and the Van Gundy brothers. Wrestling has a different model. Edited November 1, 2022 by RedPanda 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrestlingshoe Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 6 hours ago, Wrestleknownothing said: I loved his reaction when asked about wrestling elsewhere. The quizzical look was priceless without being combative. He seems to have a very comfortable relationship with the press. Yes he is a good interview. Liked... "What do you mean? I just bought a house. I'd stop wrestling before I left Iowa." He did forget to add, though, I bought it with NIL money. : ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedPanda Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 Wow, I don't recall ever hearing about a college athlete in any sport buying a house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headshuck Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 Have you seen Steveson’s wheels? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ionel Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 9 minutes ago, headshuck said: Have you seen Steveson’s wheels? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragit Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 6 hours ago, RedPanda said: Wow, I don't recall ever hearing about a college athlete in any sport buying a house. I seem to remember although I wish I didn't some creepy message board fascination with Alex Marinelli and his gainfully employed wife's pursuit of the American dream of settling down together in a house with a mortgage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulldog Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 15 hours ago, Jimmy Cinnabon said: How about Brent Metcalf? Hawkeye legend, loved just as much by Iowa fans, 3x NCAA champ, World gold medalist, currently coaching at the college level. Why wouldn't he be a more logical choice than Spencer? You may wanna recheck that. To quote Metcalf, "I'm not a world anything." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Cinnabon Posted November 2, 2022 Author Share Posted November 2, 2022 1 hour ago, Bulldog said: You may wanna recheck that. To quote Metcalf, "I'm not a world anything." I use "world" to mean international comps -- he has won a bunch. Medal record Representing the United States Men's Freestyle wrestling World Cup 2015 Los Angeles 65 kg 2014 Los Angeles 65 kg Pan American Games 2015 Toronto 65 kg Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin 2015 Krasnoyarsk 65 kg 2013 Krasnoyarsk 65 kg 2011 Krasnoyarsk 66 kg Golden Grand Prix: Baku - Memorial Heydar Aliyev 2014 Baku 65 kg 2010 Baku 66 kg Paris Grand Prix 2015 Paris 65 kg Pan American Championships 2009 Venezuela 66 kg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Ramirez Walnut, California Class of 2025 Committed to Oklahoma State Projected Weight: 125, 133
Landon Robideau St. Michael-Albertville, Minnesota Class of 2025 Committed to Oklahoma State Projected Weight: 149, 157
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