Four-time EIWA Champ Kilrain inducted into Lehigh Hall of Fame

Posted on October 22, 2009 by Jon

DATE: 5/12/2008 9:58:00 AM
Bethlehem, PA
Lehigh Sports Information

Four former Lehigh greats have been elected to the Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame. Formal induction took place on Lehigh’s Packer Campus on Saturday, May 10, 2008. Basketball standout Greg Falkenbach ‘72, four-time EIWA Champion Colin Kilrain ’82, cross country/track and field star Tim Steele ‘73, and two-way football standout Pete Williams ’58 are the newest members. Falkenbach and Kilrain comprise the class of 2007, while Steele and Williams make up the class of 2008. Formal induction for the Class of 2007 was held off for one year because Commander Kilrain was out of the country serving his duties as Captain of Special Forces for the Navy Seals.

One of only eight four-time champions in the 103-year history of the EIWA, Colin J. Kilrain ‘82 is one of just three wrestlers to win a championship at three different weight classes (167, 177, 190). A two-time captain and three-time third place NCAA finisher, Kilrain won over 90 percent (87-8) of his matches while at Lehigh, which ranks in the top-ten in school annals. During the last three years of his career in the Brown and White, Kilrain compiled an astounding 70-4 record with 23 wins-by-fall and 26 bonus wins. Four of those wins came versus NCAA Champions.

“It’s an honor to be inducted into the Lehigh Hall of Fame,” Kilrain said. “There were a number of folks who came before me that served as role models and sterling examples of what a Hall of Famer should be and I’m proud to be among this high caliber group.”

During Kilrain’s sophomore season, he pushed three time NCAA Champion Ed Banach of Iowa to the brink of elimination before suffering an injury and losing by just a single point. The next year, Kilrain exacted revenge on Banach, defeating him 9-5 at Stabler Arena in front of a raucous crowd of over 4,500 people. Kilrain was ranked first in the nation at 190 pounds as a junior, and later went onto earn the number-one seed for that year’s national tournament at 177 pounds.

Two time NCAA Champion Mark Lieberman ’79 was a teammate of Kilrain’s during one of the program’s most successful eras. “Colin was so gifted and so powerful and explosive. His technique was excellent and we really went after one another inside the wrestling room. There were very few matches where we faced better competition than we faced every day from one another.”

He continued, “Colin worked very hard to become the best wrestler he could. He had great technique and was really a student of the game.”

As a senior, Kilrain defeated eventual NCAA Champion Pete Bush of Iowa by major decision in their regular season dual in Iowa City by a score of 11-1. He again earned the country’s top seed for NCAAs, this time at 190 pounds, and finished his final season on the mat with a record of 23-1.

“Colin was an outstanding wrestler and a really good guy; he was one of the most popular guys on the team” Lehigh Hall of Famer and Kilrain’s coach Thad Turner said. “He was a good athlete, particularly for someone as big as he is and a great competitor. This is one of the most justifiable things we’ve done by electing Colin into the Hall of Fame.”

Kilrain’s accomplishments post-graduation have been even more impressive than his work on the mats. He currently serves as Captain of Special Forces for the Navy Seals, having completed countless assignments globally, including in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“The sport itself taught me a lot about how to set goals and accountability,” Kilrain said. “I had an unbelievably positive experience wrestling at Lehigh. Everything about the program including the tradition to the support from the University, student body and surrounding community all contributed to the whole cultural experience.”

He added, “We were all privileged to wrestle for Lehigh University, but also for Thad Turner. His efforts to build the complete individual for life after graduation speaks volumes on the type of people that Lehigh and its wrestling program develops.”

“I’m not surprised one bit at what Colin has accomplished since he’s left Lehigh,” Turner added. “I always knew he would be successful no matter what he chose to do.”

Kilrain and his wife Susan have four children: Quinn Marie, Sean Joseph, Liam Porter and Maura Ann.

The annual Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame induction is sponsored by the Lehigh Athletics Partnership.

What Are The Odds…

Posted on October 16, 2009 by Jon

What are the chances of getting a full ride scholarship if you wrestle? Check out the following image that compares the different sports and what the chances are of getting a full ride scholarship. (Click on the image to get the big picture.)

So the chances of getting a full ride scholarship if you wrestle are pretty slim. The first thing I thought when I saw that was “Why?” Answer? Money. We all know that football brings in the most money for a college or university, so they are going to want willing be able to pour more money into that sport than others. Wrestling is at the bottom of the list for the same reason. Unless you are in wrestling state, wrestling just isn’t that big of a sport.

So what are some things that everyone can do to change that? Jim Brown has a blog that is awesome. If you haven’t checked it out, you have no reason not to. He has a ton of posts about what we can do as fans to build the sport. Some that I remember reading off the top of my head are to actually going to the meets. Get butts into the seats and stands. Bring a friend. When you’re there, make noise. And lots of it. Explain to the friend that you brought the techiniques that are being used and why different points are being scored.

Some may complain that there isn’t enough coverage of the sport. While this may be true, there are plenty of places to go to check it out. Again, Jim comes to the rescue with this awesome post about getting more college wrestling coverage. If you don’t listen to the podcasts that are out there, start now. Wrestling411.tv and TakeDownRadio.com both have AWESOME podcasts and they provide amazing coverage of the sport.

Support the print magazines that talk solely about wrestling. Three of the biggest ones are WIN magazine, Amateur Wrestling News and Wrestling USA. Get one or get all three! Help support those that are covering the sport. More importantly though, make it to as many meets as possible to support the actual wrestlers.

Thanks to Mat Siltala for letting me know about this image and steelathlete.com for the actual image.

Cool Sports Directory – Great Place to Get Gear for your Kids This Season

Posted on October 13, 2009 by Jon

I found this really cool sports directory the other day at pediro.com. It’s got everything from swimwear to football to yours truly – WrestleFattie! If you are looking for gear for your kid this season, you’ll want to check this site out. While your there, be sure to check out our listing for wrestling shoes, wrestling equipment and wrestling saftey gear.

If you are looking for gear for any other gear, be sure to check it out. Looks like they got it all!

Caldwell Out for 2009 Season

Posted on October 3, 2009 by Jon

The Famous Push in the 2009 NCAA wrestling championships

After winning the 2009 NCAA wrestling championship at 149 pounds, Darrion Caldwell earned a spot on the U.S. National Team this past summer. He traveled to many places all over the world and had the opportunity to wrestle with world champions. On Friday it was announced that due to a shoulder injury, Caldwell will have to undergo surgery on Oct. 5 and will miss the upcoming season. Recovery time is between four and six months.

Caldwell said that the shoulder injury happened last Labor Day weekend. “Basically I was goofing off with my girlfriend and rollerblading and I ended up falling. It was actually pretty funny — like a blooper or something,” he said.

Caldwell still has one year of eligibility left at N.C. State and will be wrestling for the Wolfpack again during the 2010-2011 season. Technician Deputy Sports Editor Jen Hankin had the opportunity to talk with defending champion Caldwell about his injury and future plans.

In the year that he is going to take off, you had better believe that he is not going to be very far from the wrestling room. “I can take this time and then get back on the road and get back on the cycle for 2012. I did get hurt though and I know that’s just a stepping stone. I feel like this is just getting me more mentally ready. With this break it’s just going to make me want it even more.”

Caldwell also shared that he would like to coach, “something I’ve always dreamed of doing,” he said.

Technician: What are your plans for the upcoming year and what do you think your first break from wrestling in such a long time will be like?

Caldwell: I have taken some steps back from wrestling and basically been getting my academics together. Last semester, during the national championship, my grades fell off a little bit. I feel with this here, I’m going to concentrate on my grades. I also feel grateful to be able to act more as a coach, which is something I’ve always dreamed of doing.” Caldwell also says that “now instead of going to practice to wrestle, I’ll be going to practice to actually help them improve. I’m basically playing a coach’s role. I really feel like it will be beneficial for the team, since I’ve seen most of the competition that they are going to face. This is modern day wrestling, it’s different from 10 to 15 years ago when the coaches were wrestling. I feel like I can help them with the little small things.”

The FILA Worlds Are Under Way

Posted on September 22, 2009 by Jon

So in case you haven’t noticed: the FILA Worlds are under way. And the U.S. already has some metal. Jake Herbert pulled off a Silver Medal after coming up short against Zaurbek Sokhiev of Uzbekistan on Tuesday in the 84 kg/185 lbs. It was close, but not close enough. He lost the match 1-0, 1-0.

Jake Herbert was the first U.S. wrestler to advance to a gold medal match at the world championships, where he took a silver.

“It stinks, having to stand on the podium with a silver medal. I came in here to win a gold medal and I believed I could do it,” Herbert said. “Seeing that other guy’s flag go up and hearing that other guy’s anthem being played, and then seeing him get a World Championships belt, that gives me something to shoot for next year. I didn’t know the champion got a belt. I want that belt.” Herbert also said that he had one thing on his mind going into the MesseCenter: walking out of the MesseCenter with a gold medal draping his neck. Next year he’ll have the belt as well as the gold medal.

Heavyweight Tervel Dlagnev capped an amazing tournament by defeating Georiga’s Alex Mobedadze 2-0, 2-0 in their bronze medal match at 120 kilos.

Talking about how he has come from a sixth place finish in the NCAA tourney four years ago, he said “I’ve definitely come a long way. I still have a long way to go. I obviously didn’t get the color I wanted. It definitely was nice to get on the podium though.”

Russia has clinched the team title with 53 points. Azerbaijan is second with 39. The U.S. has jumped up to sixth place with 19 points.

Herbert will receive a $25,000 bonus from the Living the Dream Medal Fund for winning a silver medal while Dlagnev earns $15,000 for capturing a bronze medal.

Day 3 of the seven-day tournament will see three more U.S. wrestlers take the mat. Dustin Schlatter (74 kg/163 lbs.) will compete in freestyle while the women’s freestyle tournament starts with Clarissa Chun (48 kg/105.5 lbs.) and Jessica Medina (51 kg/112.25 lbs.) ready to go. Chun won a World title in 2008.

Sanderson and Team Travel to Lehigh Nov. 13

Posted on September 16, 2009 by Jon

Penn State’s first dual is coming up against Lehigh. The man who defeated Lehigh’s Jon Trenge to win that fourth NCAA title will bring his Nittany Lions to Stabler Arena on Friday, Nov. 13.

Sanderson left his alma mater Iowa State to coach Penn State in the biggest wrestling states of the nation – second to Utah, according to Sanderson. The only undefeated four-time champion in NCAA history, and who went on to win an Olympic gold medal in 2004, took over the reins of the Nittany Lions just two months ago.

”With Cael being such a great competitor, it’s going to be a great draw,” Lehigh second-year head coach Pat Santoro said. ”He’s a big name, one of the biggest college wrestling has ever had and there’s always excitement around his name.”

This match is bound to be exciting; it’s the 98th meeting between two old rivalries. Lehigh will look to build on last year’s 17-16 win at Rec Hall, which stopped a four dual Nittany Lion winning streak in the series. Penn State finished ranking 15th last season while the Mountain Hawks finished 20th with 25 points. Who do you say will win the match-up?

Before Lesnar-Mir, in college it was Lesnar-Hand

Posted on July 15, 2009 by Jon

University of Minnesota’s “Brockfast of Champions”
poster featured Brock Lesnar with “tale of the tape”
call-outs pointing out the measurements of various
body parts.

Think the UFC rivalry between Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir is intense?

A decade ago, the current UFC heavyweight champ had a powerful, ongoing rivalry as the University of Minnesota heavyweight vs Wes Hand of the University of Iowa.

In January 1999, Brock Lesnar burst onto the big-time college wrestling scene when the Bismarck State College big man started wrestling for Minnesota, one of the top-ranked NCAA Division I wrestling programs in the nation. He generated considerable buzz because of his muscular physique (6’3”, 265 pounds)… and for dominating opponents of similar poundage.

In that first month at Minnesota, Lesnar gained a headline-making victory that really put him on the radar of wrestling fans outside the upper Midwest. At the 1999 National Duals, held at Carver-Hawkeye Arena — the home for the Iowa Hawkeye wrestling program — Lesnar pinned Iowa’s Wes Hand in front of the home crowd… launching an intense mano a mano between the two warriors that lasted two years.

While Lesnar resembled a bigger, scarier version of blond movie muscleman Dolph Lundgren, Wes Hand looked more like the big, burly Iowa farm boy that he was. The dark-haired, hairy-chested Hawkeye stood 6’1” and tipped the scales at about 250 lbs.

Brock Lesnar’s college rival, Wes Hand of the University of Iowa, shown here with his singlet straps down.

The third mat meeting between Lesnar and Hand had some of the pre-match hype more like WWE or UFC 100 than a typical college dual meet, even between rival schools like Minnesota and Iowa. Before the meet – the last of the 2000 season — Hand had made some bold predictions about what he and the Hawkeyes would do to the Gophers… which riled up Lesnar, his team and its fans. Especially considering Hand had lost to Lesnar in their two previous matches.

On February 20, 2000, over 13,000 fans jammed Williams Arena at the University of Minnesota – at the time, the largest crowd ever to see a college dual meet on that campus. By the time of the heavyweight match – about halfway through the dual – the team score was 13-10 Gophers. The team that won the dual meet also won the Big Ten team title.

Here’s how the Minnesota Daily — the student paper at the University of Minnesota — described the action BEFORE any actual wrestling took place:

Tension in Sunday’s round began mounting before the two even stripped to their singlets. During pregame introductions, Hand walked over to Minnesota’s side of the mat waiting to shake Lesnar’s hand.

Lesnar emerged from behind his teammates and ran past Hand, making his way to center circle while indicating to Hand that center circle was where the two should meet. Hand went to center circle, acting like he would wish Lesnar good luck there and shake his hand.

In a 1999 match, Brock Lesnar (maroon singlet) throws Iowa’s Wes Hand

But Hand fooled all, running to center circle and right past Lesnar. The Gophers heavyweight simply waved good-bye.

It wasn’t all fun and games. In the first period, Wes Hand stunned everyone by scoring a takedown… then putting Lesnar on his back. The Hawkeye wasn’t able to pin his opponent, but held the gigantic Gopher long enough to score near-fall points, and rack up a 4-0 lead at the end of the opening period. Lesnar battled back, but was unable to grab the lead. The third-ranked Hand upset No. 1 Lesnar, 5-3.

Perhaps even more importantly, the rest of the Gophers line-up seemed to have been rocked by Lesnar’s loss, giving up their lead to ultimately lose the dual meet to Iowa 20-12 in their own gym. Thanks in large part to Wes Hand’s upset, the Iowa Hawkeyes won the 2000 Big Ten team title.

Brock Lesnar and Wes Hand wrestled two more times in college. Two weeks after the Minnesota-Iowa dual meet, the two met in the heavyweight finals at the 2000 Big Ten conference championships… with Lesnar avenging the loss, beating Hand, 2-1, in a bruising bout. Two weeks later, at the 2000 NCAA Division I championships at St. Louis, the two battled again, this time for the national heavyweight title. This time, the match went into overtime, but Lesnar came out on top, 3-2 OT.

Final score of the Lesnar-Hand rivalry: 4-1 for the Minnesota muscleman.

A few months after winning the NCAA crown, Brock Lesnar signed a developmental deal with the WWE… and, the rest is history.

Resources
Examiner.com: Brock Lesnar’s college days
Minnesota Daily write-up of the February 2000 Lesnar-Hand bout
Original post

That Latest in Wrestling News This Week

Posted on June 8, 2009 by Jon

Think it’s the off season and wrestling has died off for the summer? Think again! You have camps, coaches are moving around, freestyle is underway and much more! Here are just some articles that we have pulled up in the past week that we have been reading up on. Much thanks to the tweeps we are following for these articles, especially @wrestling, @d3wrestle and @jasonmbryant. Here are the articles that we found (or that they wrote and published…)

A Hassled Cael Laying Low While Still in Ames

3x Olympic Freestyle Champ Saitiev Retires

Wrestling Rule Changes for 2009

NCAA to look at the possibility of moving the Division I Wrestling Championships?

Norwich Reinstates Teams and Needs Your Help!

NWCA Gets Involved With Cut and Axed Wrestling Programs

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Jon

Chop Three college wrestling programs have been thrown in the trash since April. That’s a lot, and there hasn’t been a lot of focus on it. Probably because of the huge shift in coaching at PSU, ISU, ASU and Illinois. But this is MASSIVE! And finally, the NWCA is getting involved. They are putting together a program to demonstrate and convince the board of directors at the universities that wrestling is beneficial, especially to small colleges.

On the axe list from this last season: MIT, Carson-Newman, Delaware Stat, New Jersey, Lawrence College, Norwich University, Portland State, Rose-Hulman, and Wagner College.

One the steps that the NWCA is taking is explaining to the college boards of trustees the important role that wrestling can serve in helping smaller, private schools that wrestling is a way to maintain and grow overall enrollments, not shrink it, even if the economy is in the crap hole. The NWCA brings a very valid point to the table that there are more than 260,000 high school wrestlers in the U.S., but only 260 wrestling programs at four-year colleges… so there is tremendous opportunity for colleges that establish or reinstate a wrestling program to attract students from this massive potential.

The College of New Jersey wrestling team not only had success on the mat this season, but the team excelled in the classroom. The Lions were recognized as one of 25 teams by the National Wrestling Coaches’ Association that boasted a team grade-point-average of 3.0. So if the GPA is so high, which means it is bringing in quality athletes, why would you axe it? What can wrestling fans do to save college wrestling? Thoughts?

Kevin Jackson Press Conference Transcript

Posted on May 9, 2009 by Jon

Below is the transcript of the press conference when Kevin Jackson was introduced to ISU as their new head wrestling coach, replacing Cael Sanderson. The Press conference took place Friday May 1. Text is taken from Cyclones.com

Kevin Jackson
“I am truly humbled to be in this position today to lead Iowa State’s wrestling team. I said to (ISU athletics director) Jamie (Pollard) we’re just going to continue the tradition that such coaches as Jim Gibbons, Bobby (Douglas) and Harold Nichols have started.”

“This is a great opportunity for me. I thank the (ISU President Gregory Geoffroy), Jamie (Pollard), (ISU senior associate athletics director) David Harris, (ISU senior associate athletics director Steve (Malchow). I met with those guys Tuesday night and we clicked right away. I thought that for the first few minutes of the interview it went really well. It was more like a conversation than it was an interview. They understood that I wanted to be at Iowa State.”

“I’ve had some great years here in Ames, as student-athlete, as a world class wrestler. I couldn’t have won Olympic gold medals or world championships if it wasn’t for Iowa State, the athletics department and the Cyclone Wrestling Club.”

“I am excited to lead a group of young men that are sitting (in the auditorium). The team has come out to support me. I just got a chance to meet with them this morning. A couple of those guys are going to be competing at the end of this month at the World Team Trials. So, they are already on the path that I think is necessary for us to get the best recruits and for us to continue to have a tradition that holds true. We want NCAA champions, world class wrestlers and Olympic champions in our program.”

“I have family in the room today. I have several teammates that have been with me the last 20 years. I am really happy to know they are here. I am really excited to see the turnout and the applause is great.

“With that being said, it’s going to be a great run. You guys know why I am here. I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t think we could get it done. Our goal is to be the best. Our goals are to win every match, win every tournament, to win every dual, to beat our cross-state rivals. I can’t wait until we perform at Hilton Coliseum in that Iowa-Iowa State dual. That is going to be a great experience for everyone. You are going to see a change in our tactics, in our scoring, in our aggressiveness and the things that we are going to do to win matches.

“I still have obligations with Sunkist Kids. Some athletes are still competing at the World Team Trials and having camp at the end of the month in Lincoln, Neb. to prepare some guys for their final preparations in the World Championships and the World Team Trials.”

On the adjustments to being a first-time collegiate head coach
“There are several things I have to adjust to. I know I have a learning curve. The recruiting process is probably the most important part of it. Right now we are pretty solid in our lineup but I think immediately a there is a gap for the next season that I have to close in the recruiting process. I think we have a package that won’t be denied.

“I am excited because it is Iowa State. As you know, I had the possibility to coach at Arizona State as well but I was talking to Jamie and he knew the process I was in as well I was in the same mode with Arizona State as I was with Iowa State. I was communicating with their athletic director and associate athletic director. I told Jamie that Arizona State is going to call me back tonight and fly me in Friday and I don’t want to go and be put in that position. Jamie said they wanted me as our coach and I could have jumped through the roof. It was a crazy time. You have to realize that I won a gold medal but when he said that it was equally as exciting if not more than winning the gold because you are talking about coming back to Iowa State and competing in the greatest rivalry in wrestling if not sports.

“I was more than excited to accept the job even though my wife told me ‘don’t accept anything without looking at the contract and talking to me first.’ I went home and she said ‘what happened?’ I said that I took (the ISU job).”

“I am excited to be running the wrestling program. With this group of young men we are going to have a lot of fun and do a lot of winning. I think it is going to be exciting for these young men because there is nothing like winning the NCAA title for Iowa State with former ISU head coach (Jim) Gibbons in the room right now with his brother (Jeff). I understand how important it is for us to have success and I am impressed with Jamie’s understanding of the Cyclone Nation, that we needed a Cyclone in this program and there is a difference between being a Cyclone and a Hawkeye. While working at USA Wrestling, I followed Iowa State, I watched the Iowa State-Iowa dual. I go to the NCAA tournament and I am excited to be there.”

“My deal is that my door is open. I want to get everyone involved. I want to get people involved that are going to support the program from a physical standpoint, a psychological standpoint, a financial standpoint. We are going to have to change some things.”

“Bill Tate, Mike Van Arsdale, Jim Gibbons, they were the reasons I came to Iowa State. I was speaking to my athletes this morning about what my history was and I wrestled at Louisiana State. My senior year of high school, I wrestled Mike at the junior national tournament. Mike is Mike; he is a little flamboyant and energetic young guy. We were wrestling at the junior nationals and I had just won Greco-Roman and I was on my 18th, 19th match in freestyle. I am wrestling Mike in the junior national tournament. I am ready to give it up, I am exhausted. We get through the first period and I am exhausted. The period gets over and I walk over to my corner exhausted, having mental letdowns. Mike looks at the crowd and says ‘I am going to get him.’ I thought ‘I am going to kill this guy.’ So I was able to beat him and I know he remembers it. From that experience, I went to Louisiana State the following year as a freshman and went to UNI to wrestle in our regional. I was watching the Iowa State High School Tournament and saw Mike wrestling Bill Tate and Bill beat him. That was the first time I found out that Mike and Bill were going to Iowa State. That summer, LSU dropped the program and I got to know Jeff Gibbons and we worked all summer together and we built a strong relationship which was why I decided to come to Iowa State. When I was at Louisiana State, I beat quite a few Iowa guys but I saw that Iowa won every national title, they had eight and when I got here they won number nine. I thought the group at Iowa State, if I transferred there could win. I have a life-long friendship with them. They are like brothers to me and I look forward to having them at all the dual meets. They have come a long way to support me today; it is great to see them.”

“Like I said when I talked to Jamie the first time, they had really done their homework and were really in-tune with what they thought the team needed. They understood after talking with Cael and his assistants what they thought they were missing. The group I am about to put my hands on is a luxury. They are very good, they have won a number of trophies at the NCAA tournament, and they have a number of All-Americans on the team. With that being said, we want to be great and that is our goal, to go from good to great. They are such exceptional wrestlers now but only one has met his goals and won a national championship. They all want to be national champions so that is a step we have to take. Cael left a gold mine and it is my responsibility to take the next step with these guys. That is the goal and that is what we started to pursue yesterday.

“I don’t want any of (the current team members) to leave. I am going to try and keep every single one of our athletes here because I believe that they can meet all their goals at Iowa State. Iowa State is a better institution than anywhere they would go. And I understand that kids come to a program for a coach but the kids that stay are here are for Iowa State and they want to get it done here. They have competed against Iowa the past three or four years and have not had the success they were looking for and they know what they are capable of and being able to do here. We have a core group of guys here who are invested in Cael but invested in the university and a degree and finishing what they have started. It is up to me to make sure that investment they made pays off. I am not going to say who wants to leave because I want everyone to stay and that is something we will work on.

“I want the kids that want to be here, that want to be at Iowa State, a kid that wants train with my guys out here, a guy that wants to be part of a national championship program and a kid that wants to wrestle for Iowa State and his coach. I understand a kid’s mentality, when I was going through recruiting; I was looking for a coach and university. Because Cael is Cael and has his legendary status to the young kids, that kids think that they are going to wrestle for Cael. I want the kids to be happy. I know the four kids that are incoming and I want them to be happy.”

“I do have ideas for the coaching staff; I am not going to share them. They told me to take my time with the hires because they are going to be important hires for me. The people I put in place have to aid me in my learning curve have to be loyal to myself and the program. There is a short list and a long list. I have worked with a lot of coaches and athletes at the NCAA level and I can’t tell you how many people want to be part of the Iowa State program. I am going to take my time picking the people who are going to aid me.

“My goal is to see Iowa State win but I am also going to aid the country with our collegiate athletes to advance them to win at the world-class level. We are going to get some quality guys back in our room and some former Cyclones who are going to sit in Hilton with 15,000 others. I am going to push hard to see if that happens and then I am going to work on finalizing our staff. My priorities are to meet with the team, which I have already done and then I have some individual meetings this weekend to talk with these guys to see where their heads are at and what they need to win. That is very important to me.”

“I am older and a little heavier than (former Iowa State head coach) Cael (Sanderson). I have been in the game for a while and have some expertise. I think Cael is a great coach and will become a greater coach and have success at Penn State. I don’t want to say anything that is going jeopardize that from a personal standpoint. We are all different and I am happy for him and his family, I think he will do a great job at Penn State and as long as he is happy I am happy.”

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