Tom Brands

  • Head Coach
  • Age: 39
  • Hometown:
    Sheldon
  • Coaching record at UI: 35-6
  • Year:
    Second

The influence Tom Brands has had on the Iowa wrestling program is noticeable in the team’s training room on a typical summer day. It’s apparent on a fall Saturday when fans of the Hawkeyes cram into the same practice facility to get a look at Brands’ boys. It’s clear by looking at the number of filled seats in Carver-Hawkeye Arena for dual meets these days.

Brands has placed his stamp on the Iowa program in two years — from the year-round training program his athletes follow to the energy surrounding the Hawkeyes. But perhaps no area has his impact been more apparent than in the results department.

In just his second year as the head coach of the Hawkeyes, Brands guided Iowa to one of its best seasons in program history. The Hawkeyes captured their 21st NCAA title, went 21-1 in dual meets, set a tournament scoring record at the Midlands, won the National Duals and claimed the Big Ten dual and tournament titles. Brands also was named Big Ten Coach of the Year and voted the National Coach of the Year by his peers.

“This is a continuation of a year ago,” Brands said. “We didn’t just all of a sudden try something new or different. The (Dan) Gable influence is alive. It was alive last year, we just didn’t have the time with these guys, plus you’ve got some guys who are wrestling with some pretty good energy.”

A lot of that energy comes from the fiery coach who left Virginia Tech in 2006 after two seasons to help the Hawkeyes return to glory.

“We’ve always had a bunch of great coaches at the University of Iowa, but ever since Brands got here kids are responding really well to him and they're buying into everything he says — and that’s what a great coach does; he can get his athletes to listen,” four-time All-American Mark Perry Jr. said. “You’ve got guys like Joe Slaton, who I thought was going to be second- or third-string starting the season, and he’s in national finals, and it’s just because he’s bought in so hard he’s turned into a great wrestler because of Brands’ system.”

That philosophy of aggressive wrestling is one Brands employed when he won three NCAA titles under Gable and took the gold at the 1996 Olympics.

— Andy Hamilton