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Kevin Dresser
Current position
Title Head coach
Team Iowa State
Conference Big 12
Record48–23
Annual salary$300,000
Biographical details
Born (1962-11-09) November 9, 1962 (age 61)
Fort Dodge, Iowa, U.S.
Alma mater Iowa
Playing career
1981–1986 Iowa
Coaching career ( HC unless noted)
1986–1988 Iowa (asst.)
1988–1996 Grundy HS
1996–2006 Christiansburg HS
2006–2017 Virginia Tech
2017–present Iowa State
Head coaching record
Overall208–74
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2012–13 ACC Tournament
2013–14 ACC Tournament
2014–15 ACC Dual Championship
2015–16 ACC Dual Championship
2016–17 ACC Dual Championship
Medal record
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing the Iowa Hawkeyes
NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
Gold medal – first place 1986 Iowa City 142 lb


Kevin Dresser (November 9, 1962) is a collegiate wrestling coach, currently at Iowa State University and formerly at Virginia Tech (2006–2017). Dresser had also been a coach at Christiansburg HS, Grundy HS, and an assistant at the University of Iowa, after having wrestled for the Hawkeyes.

Early life

Born in Fort Dodge and a native of Humboldt, Iowa, Dresser was a two-time high school wrestling state champion and four time place winner fifth (freshman) and sixth (sophomore) at Humboldt High School. Kevin had a high school record of 112-11-1, he holds his school's records for number of takedowns and pins. [1] Kevin matriculated to the University of Iowa where he was an NCAA National Champion at 142 pounds in 1986. He was also a two-time NCAA All-American and two-time Big Ten Conference Champion. Kevin had an NCAA record of 34-2-1 with 16 falls. His coach at Iowa was wrestling legend Dan Gable. In 1986, he was given the Mike Howard Award as the most valuable wrestler for the Hawkeyes that season. [2]

Early coaching career

Dresser coached under Dan Gable at Iowa for several years after graduation. [2] He then accepted a position as head wrestling coach at Grundy High School in Grundy, VA. Dresser led the Virginia powerhouse to eight Virginia state titles in eight years. [3] Dresser then moved to Christiansburg, Virginia to take over the wrestling program at Christiansburg High School. He successfully built the team from scratch and led them to 5 consecutive Virginia state team championships. During his tenure, Christiansburg High School was ranked as high as fourth in the nation. [4]

Collegiate coaching career

Virginia Tech

Kevin Dresser took over as head coach for the Virginia Tech Hokies wrestling team in 2006, upon the departure of Tom Brands. [5]

Dresser went 160-51 in 11 seasons. The team earned two ACC Tournament Championships (2012–13 and 2013–14) and three ACC Dual Championships (2014–15, 2015–16, and 2016–17), during his tenure. [6] [7]

Kevin was named the 2016 NWCA Coach of the Year. [8]

Iowa State

Nearing the end of the 2016-17 season, Kevin Dresser accepted an offer to be the new head coach of wrestling at Iowa State University.Bringing with him his wife Penny, oldest daughter Emma, middle daughter Anna, and youngest son, Jack. Dresser coached the Cyclones to the 2024 Big XII team wrestling championship. He was also named the Big XII coach of the year in 2019 and 2024. [9] He signed a 7-year, $2.25 million contract. [10]

References

  1. ^ "Kevin Dresser brings strong message to hometown - The Humboldt Independent".
  2. ^ a b "Official Athletics Website of the Iowa Hawkeyes" (PDF).
  3. ^ Gildea, William (February 23, 2003). "Grundy's Diamonds in the Rough" – via washingtonpost.com.
  4. ^ "Kevin Dresser has paid his dues. - The Predicament". October 29, 2015. Archived from the original on September 28, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  5. ^ "Iowa State hires Virginia Tech's Dresser as wrestling coach".
  6. ^ "hokiesports.com :: Wrestling :: Kevin Dresser".
  7. ^ "Virginia Tech Wrestling - HISTORY & RECORDS" (PDF). www.hokiesports.com. 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  8. ^ "NWCA - Service & Collegiate Awards". www.nwcaonline.com. 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  9. ^ "Iowa State lands proven program-builder Kevin Dresser for wrestling post".
  10. ^ "Iowa State lures Kevin Dresser from Virginia Tech".

External links