Gary Kurdelmeier, coached wrestling at both Iowa and Georgia State .
It was Gary Kurdelmeier who had a vision of University of Iowa wrestling being the best. Not even Gary could have envisioned what heights the program, for which he laid the foundation, would ascend to. It was Kurdelmeier alone who realized that Dan Gable had the potential to reach greater heights as a coach than as a wrestler.
Because of what he started, Iowa wrestling has become one of the most dominant forces, in any sport, in the history of the NCAA.
Kurdelmeier became head coach of the Hawkeye wrestlers in 1973 and served in that capacity four years. Three Big Ten and two NCAA championships highlighted the four-year term. He coached two Olympians, six NCAA and 10 Big Ten titlists. He was named College Coach of the Year and wrestling's Man of the Year in 1975. He had a career dual meet record of 51-7-5 (80%).
Gary was a wrestling letterman at the University of Iowa. He won a Big Ten title in 1957 and an NCAA title in 1958.
He also served as assistant athletic director before leaving Iowa
in 1986 to become executive director of USA Wrestling. He
later started the wrestling program at Georgia St.
More information:
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History of Wrestling in Cresco
