Coaching Staff Next Year

[Stick Kitty]

VHS, is Tom holding you hostage?

Well VHS did say he knew the hire and it checked all the boxes. So makes sense its really is Warner and VHS is fighting for his life to defend "the boxes" in his head.

VHS went full MSU on this thread!

IMO I am with Spooner here. Right guy wrong time. I absolutely love Warner. Very cool kid who got blasted his whole career on these boards. But its typical Tom not reading the room or understanding the urgency of his footing. Very standard circle of trust move and so predictable. Cant get out of his own way. Major control freak

 

[Mattski]

Think about golf for a second. Most of the VERY BEST coaches never made it on tour. Should they not be able to coach? Just like golf, wrestling takes special innate abilities to actually do at the very highest level. However, that doesn't mean that many do not know how to do them.

Some simply aren't fast enough, or strong enough, or able to build their gas tank deep enough. Some don't have the flexibility and can never develop it past a certain point. Some may have simply not had the mental makeup to do it in the heat of battle. NONE of that means you can't TEACH it at the very highest level. In fact, I would argue that many that couldn't do it spend MORE time trying to find out why they couldn't and what was necessary to be able to do it.

In short, many that couldn't quite be the most elite of elite become students of the sports, much moreso than many that could naturally accomplish it. EVERYTHING about Warner showed he was a true student of the sport. If the argument is simply RECRUITING value, that is an altogether different subject. But, flat out coaching, I would say his work with guys at Iowa has shown he is very good at the actual coaching ON the mat...

Unfortunately the history of GREAT head coaches in wrestling doesn't bear this out.
Gable - Incredibly decorated as a wrestler, one of the best all time, and arguably an even better coach.
Cael - Arguably the best wrestler ever, and now proving to be one of the best coaches of all time.
Smith - More of the same.
You don't need to have been an all time elite wrestler to be a coach or even be a very good coach. But if we've learned anything over the past 40+ years, if you want your program to compete for championships consistently, being led by an all timer is the way to go. *This is mainly directed at the "coach in waiting" comments we're already seeing regarding JW.

 

[Slim45]

Well VHS did say he knew the hire and it checked all the boxes. So makes sense its really is Warner and VHS is fighting for his life to defend "the boxes" in his head.

VHS went full MSU on this thread!

IMO I am with Spooner here. Right guy wrong time. I absolutely love Warner. Very cool kid who got blasted his whole career on these boards. But its typical Tom not reading the room or understanding the urgency of his footing. Very standard circle of trust move and so predictable. Cant get out of his own way.

You must not read well. Vhs has already said he thought Yianni was a done deal and that’s who he was talking about checking the boxes, and that obviously fell through. Im assuming Cornell got word and opened a spot to keep him there.

 

[BroncHawk]

Well VHS did say he knew the hire and it checked all the boxes. So makes sense its really is Warner and VHS is fighting for his life to defend "the boxes" in his head.

VHS went full MSU on this thread!

IMO I am with Spooner here. Right guy wrong time. I absolutely love Warner. Very cool kid who got blasted his whole career on these boards. But it’s typical Tom not reading the room or understanding the urgency of his footing. Very standard circle of trust move and so predictable. Cant get out of his own way.

VHS did post earlier today that he had heard the new Asst would be Yianni.

100% agree on last part

 

[AndEEss]

I'd be very surprised if that position pays less than $150k.

 

[FF141]

Is everyone’s expectations for the THIRD assistant position out of whack? I can’t see any world where they put some Head coach in waiting there. No way they get a Yianni, Nolf, JB or such to be Third fiddle with little autonomy.

 

[VakAttack]

I loved Warner. I'm rooting hard for him. This is not what I was hoping for, and I'll just hope now that I'm dead wrong.

 

[TheREALSpooner]

Think about golf for a second. Most of the VERY BEST coaches never made it on tour. Should they not be able to coach? Just like golf, wrestling takes special innate abilities to actually do at the very highest level. However, that doesn't mean that many do not know how to do them.

Some simply aren't fast enough, or strong enough, or able to build their gas tank deep enough. Some don't have the flexibility and can never develop it past a certain point. Some may have simply not had the mental makeup to do it in the heat of battle. NONE of that means you can't TEACH it at the very highest level. In fact, I would argue that many that couldn't do it spend MORE time trying to find out why they couldn't and what was necessary to be able to do it.

In short, many that couldn't quite be the most elite of elite become students of the sports, much moreso than many that could naturally accomplish it. EVERYTHING about Warner showed he was a true student of the sport. If the argument is simply RECRUITING value, that is an altogether different subject. But, flat out coaching, I would say his work with guys at Iowa has shown he is very good at the actual coaching ON the mat...

I think I agree with you. It is kind of counter intuitive. As sports fans, we are conditioned that teams/athletes "take on the personality of their head coach." I feel like that is true...mostly. We have definitely seen that it isn't true in wrestling. Zalesky and the Brands bros were as aggressive as any wrestlers we have seen in Hawkeye singlets, yet over time their teams evolved into passive wrestlers on their feet.

Why? I have no idea.

 

[MissouriHawkeye]

Well VHS did say he knew the hire and it checked all the boxes. So makes sense its really is Warner and VHS is fighting for his life to defend "the boxes" in his head.

VHS went full MSU on this thread!

IMO I am with Spooner here. Right guy wrong time. I absolutely love Warner. Very cool kid who got blasted his whole career on these boards. But its typical Tom not reading the room or understanding the urgency of his footing. Very standard circle of trust move and so predictable. Cant get out of his own way. Major control freak

Agreed. We don't need more of same. I doubt many of these potential recruits know who Warner is. I'm sure Warner is a great guy and he pulled alot of boring 1 point wins in his career. Not the style that Iowa needs, just more of same.

 

[TheREALSpooner]

I'd be very surprised if that position pays less than $150k.

Morningstar's U of I salary is ~$130K. If he isn't also compensated by the HWC, I'd put the full comp for the position somewhere slightly less than that.

 

[TheREALSpooner]

Is everyone’s expectations for the THIRD assistant position out of whack? I can’t see any world where they put some Head coach in waiting there. No way they get a Yianni, Nolf, JB or such to be Third fiddle with little autonomy.

Who the heck thought JB? No one.

I believe Yianni is signing on far a similar role at Cornell, so hardly crazy to think about. I think most understand it is a fairly entry level type job, but were just hoping for a non-former Brands guy.

 

[BrianLafevre]

The position doesn’t pay a lot so I wasn’t expecting a home run. Was hoping for someone outside of the brands Iowa bubble.

The position pays plenty--This position gets pay and benefits through the U of I, AND pay from HWC. Might be among the highest paid 4th assts in the country.

Yes we all know about the unofficial HWC money that accompanied his $46K salary from 2025. Simply isn’t enough to entice a top flight coach from across the country for the 4th assistant job but I’m skeptical that was ever in the cards anyways.

This is playing out exactly as most thought it would.

 

[huntinghawk]

Buchanan and Ferrari. Check the man's product. While Ferrari is pretty hesitant. He always has been, so not much is probably going to change there.

I get the worry that because Warner had limited offense and didn't pull the trigger, that he's going to do the same as a coach. And i'm just saying he's not. He was able to analyze that pretty well and doesn't want his guys to feel the same way he did, not wrestle the same way he did.

Is he going to impress recruits? That depends on how the heavyweights continue to progress. Casey Cunningham isn't some "name" - but the quality of the upperweights in PSU has been stupendous with every one of them saying Casey is the reason. Warner is going to have to get guys chips.

Wasn't he here with Endene? That could be his biggest feather. I'm hopeful for a bigger name, but agree with you that JW could be an excellent coach.

 

[TheREALSpooner]

Yes we all know about the unofficial HWC money that accompanied his $46K salary from 2025. Simply isn’t enough to entice a top flight coach from across the country for the 4th assistant job but I’m skeptical that was ever in the cards anyways.

This is playing out exactly as most thought it would.

This job likely pays somewhere close to $100K if not more. Care to explain to us how that's "not a lot" for a wrestling coach?

Also...4th assistant? Who are Iowa's other 3 assistants?

 

[MSU158]

Unfortunately the history of GREAT head coaches in wrestling doesn't bear this out.
Gable - Incredibly decorated as a wrestler, one of the best all time, and arguably an even better coach.
Cael - Arguably the best wrestler ever, and now proving to be one of the best coaches of all time.
Smith - More of the same.
You don't need to have been an all time elite wrestler to be a coach or even be a very good coach. But if we've learned anything over the past 40+ years, if you want your program to compete for championships consistently, being led by an all timer is the way to go. *This is mainly directed at the "coach in waiting" comments we're already seeing regarding JW.

J Rob was pretty damn special. Regardless, we weren't talking about a head coach of a top school. We were talking about the last assistant. The guy where actual MAT coaching is mainly his purview.

As far as head coaching goes, he would probably do very well at 90+% of all schools. At most, having been a 4XAA and Finalist would be accomplishments that would vastly exceed nearly every head coach out there and his name recognition would be just as far ahead.

I get that recruiting, with how developed elite kids are coming right out of high school now, is at the absolute highest premium it has ever been. Name recognition along with International accolades are damn near a must as a head coach unless you can have someone like a Spencer Lee on staff in the room. But, after recruiting, Warner could absolutely do everything else at a very high level as a coach.

Hell, you never know. He still has some pretty damn solid credentials and may very well develop the type of personality to bond with recruits. Be as visible as possible at as many camps and clubs as possible. There are ways to become a top notch recruiter without solely being a household name. With that said, a billionaire benefactor would go A LONG WAYS to help with that...

 

[PaperClipPusher]

If Warner gets the job and I'm Bobby Telford I would be setting a therapy appointment asap. For Terry Brands to say JW is an upgrade over Telford is crazy talk. More proof that Iowa will continue to be the butt of all jokes in the D1 wrestling world! It's almost getting comical as this point.

 

[BadBoi]

Not the tide changing hire the program needed. It was probably naive to think that a lower level assistant could make that type of change to begin with. I think he'll do a fine job.

 

[FF141]

Who the heck thought JB? No one.

I believe Yianni is signing on far a similar role at Cornell, so hardly crazy to think about. I think most understand it is a fairly entry level type job, but were just hoping for a non-former Brands guy.

You’re right no one. The point I was really making is the boo birds are gonna boo unless it’s a splash hire and that’s unlikely with the third asst position. Don’t disagree that I would have liked an outside hire. Assuming we’ll have to wait till there’s a wholesale staff change.

 

[SASHmoney]

I hope Jwar wears the neon shoes on the bench! Lover Warner, would have liked an outside hire but I’ll support Jwar anytime. Go bears

 

[BrianLafevre]

This job likely pays somewhere close to $100K if not more. Care to explain to us how that's "not a lot" for a wrestling coach?

Also...4th assistant? Who are Iowa's other 3 assistants?

Care to explain to us why we didn’t get a top flight assistant with experience that can help address the recruiting woes if it is indeed Warner?

Tom, Tom’s genetic clone, tom’s recruiter and tom again.

 

[huntinghawk]

Now you're just trolling. Zero chance you're typing this with a straight face. Angelo was #1pfp recruit. As we've seen, a lot of those guys come in and are competitive immediately. Hell based on what we saw at this year's nationals, you could argue AF has underperformed thus far. That would certainly be more accurate than giving a non coach credit for "all" of his success.

Underperformed? How stupid are you?

 

[Anon1751917054]

Also...4th assistant? Who are Iowa's other 3 assistants?

Tom/Terry/Morningstar.. this next position is the 4th coaching position.

 

[MSU158]

I think I agree with you. It is kind of counter intuitive. As sports fans, we are conditioned that teams/athletes "take on the personality of their head coach." I feel like that is true...mostly. We have definitely seen that it isn't true in wrestling. Zalesky and the Brands bros were as aggressive as any wrestlers we have seen in Hawkeye singlets, yet over time their teams evolved into passive wrestlers on their feet.

Why? I have no idea.

It is really all about the skillset coming into the room. Which is why recruiting is so incredibly important. Iowa, under Brands, seems to truly emphasize positioning and hand fighting over everything else. Work towards CLEAN setups and openings before pulling the trigger, which, in turn, minimizes scrambles.

Against lesser opponents they pretty much dominate. However, once they get to those equally talented, it can often look "boring" because they are holding position until they win the handfight enough to get a clear setup or "opening" to attack. Meanwhile, someone like Caliendo is so good at moving his feet and changing levels, while STILL holding great position and winning the handfights that he is much more able to set up and create openings than many of the other guys.

It truly isn't that Iowa is coaching kids that much different than any other top program. They just aren't bringing in the highest level recruits that already specialize in "spaghetti" wrestling or wrestling from space. Guys like Forrest have a wide variety of attacks and can chain wrestle to completion starting in so many positions, even when disadvantaged.

Hell, the most prime example is Vega. Many want to give all the credit to Taylor as the coach, but go watch his match against Bassett in Freestyle. Even then, he was damn near impossible to take down and with exposure criteria, I am not sure Bassett would have taken him down. Vega is the best I have ever seen at leg attack defense. Honestly, he is even better(SO FAR) than Askren was. His body type allows him to collect the high crotch right away and immediately start cutting the corner. If positioning changes, he pinches the head, if they come up to collect the hips he continues to control the head and brings in a leg and hits a cradle. If they belly back down he goes back to the crotch and finishes sitting the corner. He CAME IN with that skillset...

Edited to add: So I don't get yelled at by old school Iowa fans, Lewboo was GREAT at leg defense as well, but that was a different era. I am sure he would have adapted to how it is done today, but HOW Vega is able to do it now is the most impressive I have seen at the DI level...

 

[Trakker]

VHS, is Tom holding you hostage?

Just blink twice if the answer is yes.

Tom probably told him he wont be allowed back in the room or to any aumni events unless he starts talking positively about the program

 

[Trakker]

You must not read well. Vhs has already said he thought Yianni was a done deal and that’s who he was talking about checking the boxes, and that obviously fell through. Im assuming Cornell got word and opened a spot to keep him there.

Or vhs doesnt really know much more than anyone else but posts as he is a former iowa wrestler with all sorts of connections not only in the program but around the country and has tons of inside info.

 

[93hawkeye]

Unfortunately the history of GREAT head coaches in wrestling doesn't bear this out.
Gable - Incredibly decorated as a wrestler, one of the best all time, and arguably an even better coach.
Cael - Arguably the best wrestler ever, and now proving to be one of the best coaches of all time.
Smith - More of the same.
You don't need to have been an all time elite wrestler to be a coach or even be a very good coach. But if we've learned anything over the past 40+ years, if you want your program to compete for championships consistently, being led by an all timer is the way to go. *This is mainly directed at the "coach in waiting" comments we're already seeing regarding JW.

Another point is wrestling is very different than golf. Wrestling technique get sharpened quickly by great competition. Iowa's guys in the 80s and 90s, and PennSt's guys the last 10-12 years learn to beat anybody by wrestling against the best guys daily.
So, yeah, we want coaches who have had their technique sharpened by beating the best.

 

[TherealGrip220]

Cody and Nick Lee are assistants at psu, Kennedy and Ward are assistants at Okie st. Why would anyone think Warner cannot be as good or better then any of these guys as a coach???

 

[MSU158]

Another point is wrestling is very different than golf. Wrestling technique get sharpened quickly by great competition. Iowa's guys in the 80s and 90s, and PennSt's guys the last 10-12 years learn to beat anybody by wrestling against the best guys daily.
So, yeah, we want coaches who have had their technique sharpened by beating the best.

As if Warner wasn't a great wrestler in his own right? 4XAA's and NCAA Finalists grow on trees? The point was very simple. You don't have to be the absolute most elite wrestler to be an elite mat coach.

As far as the other part goes, there is a major element of common sense there. Of course a room full of the most elite is going to get elite results. But, that is also BECAUSE the room is ALREADY full of elite wrestlers. PSU can actually afford to miss now, because they have so many to start with. If someone falters they already have someone to step in or the go get a Kerkvliet, Messenbrink, Welsh or even a Ono.

To steal something from Duckunder, PSU has NEVER been polishing turds. They have started with a great product almost universally. Now, do they have a great record of keeping those diamonds sharp and pristine? Absolutely. But, lets not act like they are coaching so much better than Warner is capable of. During his and Bobby's time the upper weights have actually been the best part of Iowa wrestling...

Also, Cunningham was "only" a 1xer and never had high level success on the International Level. He is probably the best mat coach in the entire country. Basing a coach SOLELY on what he did on the mat is pure folly. There are guys that were actual killers in the room that can actually coach through positions and do so in a very teachable way...

 

[Mattski]

Underperformed? How stupid are you?

Far less stupid than someone claiming a non coach was "all" of the reason AF was competitive in a few matches in his redshirt year.
It's a ridiculous statement.
If I wanted to make an equally ridiculous statement I'd say something like, "If JW was that elite of coach while rolling in the room, AF would have won nationals as a true freshman the way Jax and Vega just did". But again, I recognize that would be ridiculous.

 

[vhsalum]

Well VHS did say he knew the hire and it checked all the boxes. So makes sense its really is Warner and VHS is fighting for his life to defend "the boxes" in his head.

VHS went full MSU on this thread!

IMO I am with Spooner here. Right guy wrong time. I absolutely love Warner. Very cool kid who got blasted his whole career on these boards. But its typical Tom not reading the room or understanding the urgency of his footing. Very standard circle of trust move and so predictable. Cant get out of his own way. Major control freak

Heard it was going to be Yianni. But... things change.

 

[vhsalum]

Or vhs doesnt really know much more than anyone else but posts as he is a former iowa wrestler with all sorts of connections not only in the program but around the country and has tons of inside info.

 

[TheREALSpooner]

Care to explain to us why we didn’t get a top flight assistant with experience that can help address the recruiting woes if it is indeed Warner?

Tom, Tom’s genetic clone, tom’s recruiter and tom again.

Why are you asking me to take a POV on the hire that isn't much different from your own on the subject? I mean...my goodness, man. Have I not been critical enough of this hire today? It's just your supporting points this morning are/were awful.

Also...4th assistant? Who are Iowa's other 3 assistants?

Tom/Terry/Morningstar.. this next position is the 4th coaching position.

He said "4th assistant." Words mean things. They matter.

Cody and Nick Lee are assistants at psu, Kennedy and Ward are assistants at Okie st. Why would anyone think Warner cannot be as good or better then any of these guys as a coach???

I don't see too many being critical of Warner, per se. This program is fantastically stale, and he represents more of the same. Group think prevails yet again.

 

[CP84]

Well striking out on offers so it wouldn't surprise me if we're getting Warner. Might be a great hire might not even be Telford level.

 

[blusballz]

I’ve only read a handful of comments regarding Warner possibly being the guy and I suppose I get some of it. If it’s Warner I’m going to support the guy and trust in the decision. When it comes down to it there are not a lot of big name guys that truly fit into the current Iowa coaching dynamics. Jacob could turn out to be a perfect fit and great hire.

Everyone talks about needing someone on staff that isn’t an Iowa guy and while it’s understandable to think this way - I’m not sure it’s the quick fix a lot of people think. There are reasons why we have fallen behind, but under the current regime there just isn’t going to be any major shakeups. Brands is a loyal guy. He is going to keep things in house. Some would say this is a great quality and I would probably agree.
As long as they are running the program we just have to hope they are willing to make changes. Hopefully they are able to see that just because this is how they did it doesn’t mean it’s how it should be done today. Or if it was even the best way back then. If they are willing to do this, I think we will be fine.

What Penn St has done over the last 5-10 years is incredible. They have had the perfect blend of great coaching, great recruits and great donors. Competing with that combo will always be an uphill battle. We just need to be a little better at evolving and getting the best guys we can.

 

[BrianLafevre]

Why are you asking me to take a POV on the hire that isn't much different from your own on the subject? I mean...my goodness, man. Have I not been critical enough of this hire today? It's just your supporting points this morning are/were awful.




He said "4th assistant." Words mean things. They matter.



I don't see too many being critical of Warner, per se. This program is fantastically stale, and he represents more of the same. Group think prevails yet again.

My points of;

$46k salary is not enough money to make a splash hire from someone outside the program.

And

Mistakingly stating 4th assistant instead of 4th coach…

We seem to have a similar opinion of the program, except you take the route of being an *** hole to everyone. It doesn’t really bother me, just an observation.

 

[BrianLafevre]

I’ve only read a handful of comments regarding Warner possibly being the guy and I suppose I get some of it. If it’s Warner I’m going to support the guy and trust in the decision. When it comes down to it there are not a lot of big name guys that truly fit into the current Iowa coaching dynamics. Jacob could turn out to be a perfect fit and great hire.

Everyone talks about needing someone on staff that isn’t an Iowa guy and while it’s understandable to think this way - I’m not sure it’s the quick fix a lot of people think. There are reasons why we have fallen behind, but under the current regime there just isn’t going to be any major shakeups. Brands is a loyal guy. He is going to keep things in house. Some would say this is a great quality and I would probably agree.
As long as they are running the program we just have to hope they are willing to make changes. Hopefully they are able to see that just because this is how they did it doesn’t mean it’s how it should be done today. Or if it was even the best way back then. If they are willing to do this, I think we will be fine.

What Penn St has done over the last 5-10 years is incredible. They have had the perfect blend of great coaching, great recruits and great donors. Competing with that combo will always be an uphill battle. We just need to be a little better at evolving and getting the best guys we can.

This was the perfect opportunity to show Tom is capable of evolving and having outside influences in the room. Yianni would have been an awesome hire for the optics alone (talent, recruiting, HWC notwithstanding).

I hate that this will be considered as criticism to Warner but this is just more of the same from Tom, as expected.

 

[Zoe22]

My points of;

$46k salary is not enough money to make a splash hire from someone outside the program.

And

Mistakingly stating 4th assistant instead of 4th coach…

We seem to have a similar opinion of the program, except you take the route of being an *** hole to everyone. It doesn’t really bother me, just an observation.

4th assistant usually runs camps and gets compensation from those on top of salary

 

[Coastal2]

Cody and Nick Lee are assistants at psu, Kennedy and Ward are assistants at Okie st. Why would anyone think Warner cannot be as good or better then any of these guys as a coach???

Nick Lee is a multi-time National Champ, Cody Sanderson multi-time finalist and has name recognition. Kennedy made a world team and got his job through nepotism and Ward has decades of head coaching experience.

Warner might be the nicest guy in the world and turn out to be a heckuva coach but he's not going to be able to bring anything new, isn't going to be able to tell the Brands that they are wrong and no recruit in the country is going to be impressed by his accolades.

 

[Hawx224]

Kind of pisses me off that people are so down on Warner. Flash isn’t everything

 

[MSU158]

Nick Lee is a multi-time National Champ, Cody Sanderson multi-time finalist and has name recognition. Kennedy made a world team and got his job through nepotism and Ward has decades of head coaching experience.

Warner might be the nicest guy in the world and turn out to be a heckuva coach but he's not going to be able to bring anything new, isn't going to be able to tell the Brands that they are wrong and no recruit in the country is going to be impressed by his accolades.

If recruits aren't impressed with a 4XAA and Finalist, all but MAYBE the top 2 each year are morons. His accolades are basically the SAME as Kemerer and everyone is pretty damn high on him. Are you saying no one would be impressed by Kemerer either???