The bad blood between "The Ultimate Fighter 10" head coaches Rashad
Evans and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson spilled down to the assistant
coaching staff, and it hasn't gone away since.

In a recent appearance on MMAjunkie.com Radio
Mike van Arsdale, Evans' wrestling coach on the show, said he's
been itching to get a fight with Jackson's striking coach Tiki Ghosn.

"He's one of two people in this earth that I would beat up just for the
fun of it," van Arsdale said. "Hopefully, he'll come around and make
the mistake of signing up."

Spisak gets a takedown on Newport's Eric Kemble at the District 3-AA Sectional Wrestling Tournament at Susquenita High School.

-

(CHRIS KNIGHT, The Patriot-News)

When Joe Spisak started wrestling as a young kid, it was simply to help him burn off excess energy.
   
And a good way for his parents to get peace and quiet at home.
   
But something happened when Spisak got on the mat. He was drawn to the nuances of the sport, the one-on-one competition and hours of hard work and dedication it took to outlast an opponent and get his hand raised in victory.
   
Spisak was hooked.
   
“In this sport, if you want to be good and on top, you need to put in the hours,” the Boiling Springs senior said. “It’s so cliché to say, but it’s not just a sport, it’s a lifestyle.
   
“It’s changed my life. First off, it changed my work ethic. If not for wrestling, I don’t know what I would be doing. It’s all I think about; I don’t know what I would do without it.”
   
It’s served him well.
   
Spisak, winner of more than 150 career high school matches, will be looking to add to his long list of accolades when he starts his pursuit of a fourth District 3-AA title beginning Friday at Hersheypark Arena.
   
The first round of the tournament kicks off at 10 a.m., with the quarterfinals slated for 11:30 a.m. The semifinals take place at 9 a.m. Saturday, with the finals scheduled for 7 p.m.
   
For Spisak, it is a chance to join an elite group. He can become only the 10th wrestler since the tournament started in 1938 to win a district title in each year of their high school career.
   
No doubt, a monumental feat. But it isn’t the only thing that Spisak is known for since his run started in 2006.
   
Spisak is a four-time sectional champion. He owns two regional titles and has placed three times in the PIAA Wrestling Championships, the best being a second-place finish in 2008.
   
“I didn’t expect to do as well as I’ve done, but I’m not quite where I want to be either,” Spisak said. “I’m fortunate with the outcome of many of my matches. A state title is what I want to end up with, but that isn’t in the cards yet.
   
“I hope that is where I end up this year, but that is looking too far ahead. Anyone can beat anyone, so it is one match at a time.”
   
Like many top-flight, experienced wrestlers, Spisak gets butterflies in his stomach while waiting for his match. But it isn’t nervousness.
   
It’s an excitement. A powerful energy and focus that gets whipped up before facing another opponent.
   
Spisak’s had plenty of these big moments. He’s also had plenty of mentors that have helped him develop into a feared challenger that thrives under the pressure cooker of a big match.
   
“Obviously, coach [Rod] Wright has been a big influence,” Spisak said. “I mean, he is a three-time state champion and a phenom. He knows more about wrestling than probably all of the District 3 combined. There aren’t enough good things to say about him.
   
“My dad [Steve] and whole family have stood toe-to-toe with me in wrestling, as well as everyone in the Boiling Springs community. There just isn’t enough time to mention them all.”
   
Spisak, who will continue his wrestling career at the University of Virginia next season, trains three days at the Peppelman barn with CD assistant Ken Courts. He also travels to see Juniata assistant and former Penn State wrestler Adam Smith along with attending his scheduled workouts at Boiling Springs.
   
Each entity has been instrumental in Spisak’s conditioning, strength regimen and adding wrinkles to his wrestling repertoire.
   
Good thing, because he will need every ounce of his ability to make a fourth straight trip to the top of the podium at districts, especially with standouts like Delone Catholic’s Joshua Ruppert, Hamburg’s Derek Goodwin and Brandywine Heights’ Tyler Herman lurking in the bracket.
   
“I treat districts like any other tournament,” Spisak said. “I don’t look at any of the names in the bracket to psyche myself out. You know who the studs are in the bracket.
   
“You don’t want to overthink the match. You don’t want to go overboard on analyzing it. If I work hard enough in practice and do my job, I should be the one winning.”
   
A run to states will take 10 straight wins. No matter what happens in the upcoming weeks, Spisak knows he is down to the final matches in his high school career.
   
And he wants to make each one count.
   
“Winning a fourth district title would be a great accomplishment,” Spisak said. “I will be happy with that but in the big picture, I want a state title and this is just another step.
   
“I’ve done well the last couple years, and people expect me to do well. I hope to wrestle my best and not be sloppy. I think I’m up to that challenge.”

When Joe Spisak started wrestling as a young kid, it was simply to help him burn off excess energy.

And a good way for his parents to get piece and quiet at home.

But something happened when Spisak got on the mat. He was drawn to the nuances of the sport, the one-on-one competition and hours of hard work and dedication it took to outlast an opponent and get his hand raised in victory.

Spisak was hooked.

“In this sport, if you want to be good and on top, you need to put in the hours,” the Boiling Springs senior said. “It’s so cliché to say, but it’s not just a sport, it’s a lifestyle./p

“It’s changed my life. First off, it changed my work ethic. If not for wrestling, I don’t know what I would be doing. It’s all I think about; I don’t know what I would do without it.”

It’s served him well.

Spisak, winner of over 150 career high school matches, will be looking to add to his long list of accolades when he starts his pursuit of a fourth district title in Friday’s District 3-AA Wrestling Championships at Hersheypark Arena.

The first round of the tournament kicks off at 10 a.m., with the quarterfinals slated for 11:30 a.m. The semifinals take place at 9 a.m. Saturday, with the finals scheduled for 7 p.m.

For Spisak, it is a chance to join an elite group. He can become only the 10^th wrestler since the tournament started in 1938 to win a district title in each year of their high school career.

No doubt, a monumental feat. But it isn’t the only thing that Spisak is known for since his run started in 2006.

Spisak is a four-time sectional champion. He owns two regional titles and has placed three times in the PIAA Wrestling Championships, the best being a second-place finish in 2008.

“I didn’t expect to do as well as I’ve done, but I’m not quite where I want to be either,“ Spisak said. “I’m fortunate with the outcome of many of my matches. A state title is what I want to end up with, but that isn’t in the cards yet.

“I hope that is where I end up this year, but that is looking too far ahead. Anyone can beat anyone, so it is one match at a time.”

Like many top-flight, experienced wrestlers, Spisak gets butterflies in his stomach while waiting for his match. But it isn’t nervousness.

It’s an excitement. A powerful energy and focus that gets whipped up before facing another opponent.

Spisak’s had plenty of these big moments. He’s also had plenty of mentors that have helped him develop into a feared challenger that thrives under the pressure cooker of a big match.

“Obviously, coach [Rod] Wright has been a big influence,” Spisak said. “I mean, he is a three-time state champion and a phenom. He knows more about wrestling than probably all of the District 3 combined. There aren’t enough good things to say about him.

“My dad [Steve] and whole family have stood toe-to-toe with me in wrestling, as well as everyone in the Boiling Springs community. There just isn’t enough time to mention them all.”

Spisak, who will continue his wrestling career at the University of Virginia next season, trains three days at the Peppelman barn with CD assistant Ken Courts. He also travels to see Juniata assistant and former Penn State wrestler Adam Smith along with attending his scheduled workouts at Boiling Springs.

Each entity has been instrumental in Spisak‘s conditioning, strength regiment and adding wrinkles to his wrestling repertoire.

Good thing, because he will need every ounce of his ability to make a fourth straight trip to the top of the podium at districts, especially with standouts like Delone Catholic‘s Joshua Ruppert, Hamburg‘s Derek Goodwin and Brandywine Heights’ Tyler Herman lurking in the 130-pound bracket.

“I treat districts like any other tournament,” Spisak said. “I don’t look at any of the names in the bracket to psyche myself out. You know who the studs are in the bracket.

“You don’t want to over think the match. You don’t want to go overboard on analyzing it. If I work hard enough in practice and do my job, I should be the one winning.”

A run to states will take 10 straight wins. No matter what happens in the upcoming weeks, Spisak knows he is down to the final matches in his high school career./p

And he wants to make each one count.

“Winning a fourth district title would be a great accomplishment,” Spisak said. “I will be happy with that but in the big picture, I want a state title and this is just another step.

“I’ve done well the last couple years, and people expect me to do well. I hope to wrestle my best and not be sloppy. I think I’m up to that challenge.”

LAS VEGAS - With "The Ultimate Fighter 11" now in production, head coach Tito Ortiz today confirmed his assistant coaches: WEC fighter Rob McCullough, veteran trainer and "TUF 3" assistant coach Saul Soliz, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu/judo black belt Cleber Luciano.

Ortiz today confirmed the selection with MMAjunkie.com at a media day for "TUF 11," which debuts March 31 on Spike TV.

In addition to the coaches, Ortiz said he is reserving a spot on his staff for another type of coach: a public-relations specialist.

Though the amount of air time he will receive may remain in question, one thing is certain – current Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Jake Shields will act as one of Chuck Liddell’s assistant coaches on the upcoming season of the Ultimate Fighter. Shields broke the news to fans on his website as well as on The Underground.

According to the first and final EliteXC Welterweight Champion, he will be leaving for Las Vegas on Thursday for a little less than two months while filming takes place.

“Chuck asked me a couple weeks ago and I agreed to help out. Should be fun,” said the Cesar Gracie-trained fighter.

The Californian is widely considered to be one of the top welterweights in the world and holds victories over Hayato “Mach” Sakurai, Paul Daley, and Robbie Lawler, as well as the remarkable claim of having beaten Carlos Condit and Yushin Okami on the same night in 2006. He most recently scored a unanimous decision over Jason “Mayhem” Miller at ”Strikeforce – Fedor vs. Rogers” this past November and is riding a thirteen-fight win streak covering more than four years.

Nothing was mentioned in regards to how the stint might affect Shields’ rumored title-defense in April against recently signed Strikeforce middleweight Dan Henderson.

Long-time Illinois assistant coach Jim Heffernan was promoted to take over for Mark Johnson as head wrestling coach.
 April 28, 2009

 
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - University of Illinois Director of Athletics Ron Guenther announced the promotion of long-time assistant coach Jim Heffernan to the position of head wrestling coach. Heffernan has been the top assistant under recently retired head coach Mark Johnson for the past 17 years at Illinois and two previous seasons at Oregon State.
"I am pleased to announce Jim Heffernan as our head wrestling coach," Guenther said. "Jim has been an assistant in our program for the past 17 years and was an integral part of the program's success. He has displayed exceptional loyalty and has a great understanding of the University of Illinois. Jim had an exceptional career as a collegiate wrestler and is well respected in the wrestling community. I look forward to working with him to advance our program to the next level."
Heffernan, 45, takes over for Johnson, who was the Illinois wrestling head coach for the past 17 years. Heffernan was an assistant coach on the Illini staff throughout that entire tenure as well as the two seasons they spent at Oregon State prior to coming to Champaign. Heffernan has helped guide Illinois to 10 Top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships and has helped produce seven national champions, 45 All-Americans and 120 NCAA qualifiers.
"I would like to thank Ron Guenther for giving me the opportunity to carry on the tradition Mark Johnson and I had started 17 years ago," Heffernan said. "I feel extremely fortunate to remain at Illinois as the next head wrestling coach, as this is where I want to finish my career. Champaign-Urbana and the University of Illinois have been a great place to live, work and raise my family and we are pleased to be able to continue to call it home as we move forward. I would also like to thank Vince Ille, Tom Porter, Terry Cole, Dana Brenner and Susan Young for their role in the decision making process. They were all extremely helpful and I am grateful to them for their support."
Heffernan helped lead the Illini to a Big Ten championship in 2005, three consecutive Midlands titles from 2004-06 and 17 consecutive winning seasons in dual meets. He has twice been named the National Wrestling Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year, earning the honor in 1995 and 2001, and he also was named the AFLAC Assistant Coach of the Year in 2003.
"I'm extremely happy that Jim Heffernan will be the new coach of the Fighting Illini," former head coach Mark Johnson said. "He has paid his dues as a part of a very successful program at the University of Illinois for the past 17 years and he deserves this opportunity. I wish him the best and will be his biggest fan."
A 1987 graduate of the University of Iowa, Heffernan was a four-time All-American and the 150-pound NCAA champion in 1986. He earned Iowa's Male Athlete of the Year honor in 1987 and was a four-time Big Ten champion. He also led the Hawkeyes to three NCAA championships and four Big Ten titles during his time in Iowa City. 

>"As I transition into my new role, there will be big shoes to fill," Heffernan said. "Mark Johnson has raised the expectations and standards of the program to an extremely high level. Those expectations and goals are something I will continue to embrace as we continue on to the next chapter in Ilini wrestling. Further, I would like to commend our student-athletes for the way they handled themselves through this difficult situation. There was a lot of uncertainty throughout the last month but they remained positive, motivated and continued to work hard through the resolution of the decision."
Heffernan began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Iowa before becoming an assistant coach at Lehigh in 1988. After a two-year stint in Bethlehem, Pa., Heffernan joined Johnson's staff at Oregon State as an assistant coach in 1990.
He also coached the Cadet Wrestling Team at the world championships in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1992, and led the USA World Espoir Team in 1989. Heffernan graduated from national wrestling powerhouse St. Edward High School in Cleveland, Ohio, where he won a pair of state titles. Heffernan and his wife, Rebecca, live in Champaign with their son, Sean, and daughter, Alex.
TransactionsUniversity of Illinois names Jim Heffernan head wrestling coach
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT HEFFERNAN
 
Dan Gable // Former University of Iowa head coach, Olympic gold medalist and three-time NCAA champion"Jim and I go back a long time. He was able to step right in as a freshman at Iowa and start on a national championship team, which was pretty impressive. I just knew that he would go on and do a good job coaching. I'm really glad to see that he's able to carry on in the Illinois program. I think the big thing is that now his work is really going to begin. It's going to be his program and whatever he did in the past to make it good, he's going to be the guy who will decide how good it can be. His commitment has always been there and I don't question it, but I know he'll have to go to another level. He'll have to get a lot of people around him to help him and I don't think he'll take a backseat to anyone. I think he'll take that challenge. He knows what to do and has the right attitude to do it."
J Robinson // University of Minnesota head wrestling coach"I am extremely happy that Jim Heffernan has been given the opportunity to lead the Illinois wrestling program. He has a great background as a wrestler in high school and at Iowa. He's been an assistant for 20 years and I think it's great that people who are loyal to the university are given a chance. I think Jim will continue to build upon some of the great things that have been done during the last 17 years when he was with Mark Johnsonand I'm looking forward to welcoming him as one of the Big Ten's coaches."
Steve Marianetti // 1995 NCAA Champion and head coach at Elmhurst College"I'm first relieved and then excited for Jim. After 17 years of being an assistant, Jim deserves a chance to lead the Illini. First off, Jim has always made a huge impression on the alumni. The alumni love him and he's been a huge part of their life. He's had a quiet but powerful influence behind the scenes. Now he has a chance for our state and the country to see his ability to lead. Mark has always been such a good front-man and leader that Jim hasn't had to step into that role as much, but we all know that he has it in him. Being part of the program, we see that every day. We have seen him lead in the room, but not many people have been privy to that view."
Adam Tirapelle // 2001 NCAA Champion and assistant coach at Clovis (Calif.) High School"Illinois not only has a great wrestling program but also a great tradition of having a strong, ethical, well-respected program where its student-athletes graduate and go on to become productive members of society. Not only does Jim understand that, but he's also been a big part of creating that and I'm sure he'll continue to uphold that same high standard. He's also one of the best technical coaches in the country and I'm sure he'll surround himself with the people who will fill the roles necessary to make a great coaching staff."
Alex Tirapelle // Two-time NCAA All-American and assistant coach at UC Davis"Jim brings a real level of professionalism and compassion to the program. It's a one-of-a-kind program because they really care about the kids and they treat them as their own. Jim's a father-figure type of coach. He'll look after the wrestlers and they'll become part of the program's family for the rest of their life. He'll look out for what's best for you and give you sound advice."
Mike Polz // Carl Sandburg High School head wrestling coach and father of Illinois wrestlers Clinton and Conrad Polz"I'm really happy and excited that Illinois has chosen to hire Jim. He brings a ton of experience since he's been along for the whole ride with Mark Johnson at Illinois and before that at Oregon State. His credentials say a lot. He's very familiar with the Big Ten over a long period of time and he's a good person. He's a great technician and it'll bring a lot to the program and keep it moving in the direction it was going."
 
THE HEFFERNAN FILE
 
College Coaching Experience• Illinois, assistant coach (1992-present)• Oregon State, assistant coach (1990-92)• Lehigh, assistant coach (1988-89)• Iowa, graduate assistant (1987)
 
Honors• AFLAC Assistant Coach of the Year Award (2003)• NWCA Assistant Coach of the Year (1995 & 2001)• Iowa's Male Athlete of the Year (1987)• NCAA 150-pound Champion (1986)• Four-time All-American, University of Iowa (1984-87)
 
International Coaching Experience• Cadet Wrestling Team, Istanbul, Turkey (1992)• USA World Espoir Team (1989)

 
from:  http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-wrestl/spec-rel/033009aab.html
Johnson Retires After 17 Seasons at IllinoisMost Successful Coach in Illini History Steps Down at Leader of IlliniWrestling ProgramMark Johnson announced his retirement after 17 years as head coach atIllinois on Monday.
 
March 30, 2009CHAMPAIGN, Ill. 
After 17 seasons at the helm of Illinois Wrestlingand 19 as a collegiate head coach, Mark Johnson announced hisretirement from coaching Monday. Johnson finishes his career as themost successful wrestling coach in Illinois history and one of thebest nationally."I would like to thank Ron Guenther and the entire athletic departmentfor giving me the great opportunity to fulfill my dream of leading theFighting Illini," Johnson said. "I couldn't have asked for a betterathletic director than Ron. I want to thank him for how he treated myprogram and me over my 17 years here. I really enjoyed therelationships with my athletes and staff, and I think this program isin great shape for the future."
Johnson led the Fighting Illini to an eighth-place finish at the 2009NCAA Championships, which finished on March 21, with Mike Poeta, JimmyKennedy and John Wise bringing Johnson's total of All-Americans atIllinois to 45. He finishes his coaching career with seven individualnational champions, 10 Top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships inthe last 15 years and took a total of 120 wrestlers to 17 NCAAChampionships during his time at Illinois."Mark's decision to resign as head wrestling coach did not necessarilycome as a surprise to me," Guenther said. "Mark has done anexceptional job in leading our wrestling program, however, over thepast few years, he has expressed a desire to explore otheropportunities. I am pleased for Mark that an opportunity came up tohold him in our community and I wish him much success."
Johnson's career is unmatched at Illinois, as he finishes with themost wins, NCAA Champions, All-Americans and NCAA qualifiers of anycoach in Illini history. He was named the National Coach of the Yearin 1995 and 30 of his 45 All-Americans have come in the last 10 years.He led the Orange and Blue to a team title at the 2005 Big TenChampionships, Illinois' first Big Ten crown in 53 years, and a pairof Big Ten dual titles in 2005 and 2006. He also guided the Illini toa No. 1 national ranking in 2004.The Rock Island, Ill., native won his 200th career dual meet earlierthis season at Wisconsin when the Illini took down the Badgers, 24-16,and finished the season with the second-best winning percentage amongactive college wrestling coaches. He also ranked 12th in career winsamong active coaches.
Johnson finishes his career with more than twiceas many wins as any other coach in Illinois history.Illinois' highest finish at the NCAA Championships under Johnson camein 2001, when the Illini placed fifth on the backs of NCAA ChampionsAdam Tirapelle and John Lockhart and All-Americans Matt Lackey and PatQuirk. Johnson-led teams hold the Illinois records for most dual wins,pins, dual winning percentage and points scored at both the NCAA andBig Ten Championships.
Johnson also guided Illinois wrestlers to success off the mat, as fourof his student-athletes earned the Big Ten Medal of Honor and 18 werenamed Academic All-Americans. Illinois also has 77 Academic All-BigTen selections under Johnson.A member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team, Johnson was a two-timeAll-American in 1976-77. He was a two-time National Wrestling Championand was a member of the USA Wrestling team. He was an assistant coachfor the 1988 USA Olympic team and was the head coach for the OlympicSports Festival in 1991 and 1996.Johnson and his wife, Linda, reside in Champaign. They have two growndaughters, Tricia and Mackey.
EducationB.S. in education, University of Michigan, 1977
Coaching Experience1992-2009
Head Coach - University of Illinois1990-92
Head Coach - Oregon State University1982-90
Assistant Coach - University of Iowa1978-80
Graduate Assistant - University of Iowa
Record At Illinois (17 seasons): 203-44-3 (.818)Career record (19 seasons): 223-48-5 (.817)
Coaching Honors2005 Big Ten Coach of the Year2002 NWCA All-Star Meet Head Coach2001 Big Ten Coach of the Year2000 Quad City Sports Hall of Fame1999 IWCOA Man of the Year1995 NWCA National Coach of the Year1995 W.I.N. Magazine National Coach of the Year1992 Pac-10 Coach of the Year1987 Illinois Wrestling Hall of Fame1986 NWCA National Assistant Coach of the YearCoaching Accomplishments• Won 2005 Big Ten Championships• Ranked No. 1 in 2004• Won Midlands team title 2003-05, only the third team to win threeconsecutive team titles• Led Illinois to 10 Top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships and 13Top-15 finishes in the last 15 years• Coached seven NCAA Champions• Coached 45 All-Americans• Coached 120 NCAA qualifiers at IllinoisWrestling Experience• Olympic Team, 1980• USA Wrestling Team• National Wrestling Champion (Twice)• Two-time All-American (1976-77)International Coaching Experience• USA National Coaching Staff member• Olympic Sports Festival, head coach (1991 & 1996)• USA Olympic Team, assistant coach (1988)• World Espoir Team, head coach (1987)

Ian McCutcheon FloWrestling.org
There is not much that I can add to the discussion of David Taylor and Colin Palmer.  Unless something drastic happens, this will be the high school match of the year.  Potentially, it’s the high school match of the decade.  With six, soon to be eight, state titles between the two, this was a dream for anybody associated with wrestling.  I give all the credit in the world to Taylor for having the guts to bump up in weight class, to Palmer for accepting the challenge, and to both coaches for making it happen.  For anybody who had the privilege of being in the building, it looked like an absolutely electric atmosphere, worthy of the magnitude of the bout. 
Everything in the previous paragraph has been said a thousand different ways by writers, message board posters, and John Q. fan who heard about the match.  But after looking at the totality of the weekend, the thing that interested me most was not the match.  In one of his interviews with Flo, Colin Palmer was asked what happened in the third period, where his 4-3 lead became an 8-5 loss.  He answered that “I don’t really get pushed too much,” and “I don’t have anybody that pushes me for the full six minutes,” to flesh out his point that conditioning played a part in the result.  On the flip side, Taylor was excited to mention that there are four or five guys he wrestles with that are national caliber, adding “there’s always somebody that’s going to take you down in practice.” 
This is not a knock on St. Ed’s program, or an assertion of Graham’s dominance as a program.  They’re two of the top programs in the history of high school wrestling.  But it does raise the real dilemma that elite wrestlers like Taylor and Palmer face.  In most sports, you can practice your skills individually and excel.  Great basketball players can work on shooting and ball handling at all times.  Baseball players take batting practice and throw.  Golfers can practice any shot in the book.  But wrestlers need somebody else to wrestle.  Being great is really only half the battle.  Wrestlers that are successful at the highest levels need not only their own individual talent, but people around to push them, whether it be fellow wrestlers, assistant coaches, or whoever.  Although wrestling appears individual, the contribution your workout partners make immeasurable, and ultimately makes the difference between champion and runner up. 
Frankly, this is one of the things that hurt the chances for ever having parity in the college game.  Wrestlers who want to become the best need to go where they’ll be pushed.  I’ve complained in this space before that team talent is way too concentrated.  But when you go to Iowa as a middle weight, you’re not just going for the tradition, but for the chance to roll around with Brent Metcalf and Ryan Morningstar every day.  That’s how you become the best.  While Michael Beasley can be the best high school player in the nation, go play for a relative basketball nobody like Kansas State and still be national player of the year and a lottery pick, a wrestler would have serious trouble flourishing in the same situation.  Schools of that profile in wrestling simply can’t handle a kid like David Taylor.  Dan Gable could be coaching the team, but if he doesn’t have the people to roll around with he’s not going to reach his ceiling.  More than any coaching change, budget shift, or facility upgrade, this is what holds back mid and lower tiered programs from jumping a level. 
One final addendum.  I loved seeing the packed house for this dual.  But what made me really happy was listening to David Taylor’s interview where he spoke of the atmosphere for the match.  As a former high school basketball player who doubles as a wrestling junkie, it was great to hear that the Graham student section is led by the basketball team.  It’s great that there is a student section period.    So often, wrestling tends have an incestuous crowd, where only wrestling people go to wrestling events and support the sport.  Often it appears as if this is by design.  As an outsider, I’ve noticed wrestling folk tend to isolate themselves as a fan base.  I realize that is imbedded in the culture.  It’s a lonely sport, and being independent is how you get through it.  But that’s not a great way to build a fan base.  The Palmer-Taylor match was.  The main reason for this is it was accessible to everybody.  Taylor said that he saw so many people that have never been to a match before.  With two competitors of that caliber and an atmosphere like that gym, tidily-winks could be exciting.  And more than just wrestling people saw it live.  That’s important.  The first time I went to a wrestling match, I saw defending state champs Matt Ciasulli and Jeff Ecklof go at it in front of a sold out crowd in Easton’s gym.  The electricity in the room that night hooked me to the sport for life.  Hopefully the same thing happened to somebody else last Saturday.   

Wrestling Videos on Flowrestling

Ian McCutcheon Contributed to this article. Flowrestling did the poll.
 
We took a poll of Division I coaches as well as members of the wrestling media to determine who the top ten coaches in the country are.  Though not necessarily an order of the most successful, these are the coaches that do the best jobs with their programs.  No surprise, most of the top programs in the country are represented here.  There also was a poll taken to determine what coaches will need to see improvement in the next few years, or they may be feeling the heat, because of tradition, funding, or recruiting base.  Below are the results of the poll, with small assessments of each selection.Top Ten Coaches in the Country
 
1. Tom Borrelli, Central Michigan (MAC Conference) Athletic Director  Dave Heeke:  Nobody in the country does more with less.  Borrelli tops this list because he has built a national powerhouse out the Central Michigan Chippewas in his 17 year reign.  A year ago, he led the Chippewas to a 7th place finish at the NCAA Tournament, which is astonishing considering that he operates with a fraction of the budget of the Big Ten and Big 12 schools he consistently beats.  He is 188-85-6 in his career at Central Michigan, and has won nine MAC Championships.  But his most impressive accomplishments are beyond the MAC.  Every year there are a host of Chippewas contending for medals and championships, which is really the hallmark of any top program.  No other school in such a small conference has mirrored Central Michigan's success.  He has been able to draw top talent to Central Michigan despite the MAC as a whole being hampered by the old qualifying system.  With qualifiers opening up, even more wrestlers may be drawn to Mount Pleasant.  This is a scary proposition, seeing last year CMU had the nation's top ranked recruiting class.  The one piece missing from Borrelli's impressive resume is a NCAA Team Title, but that could be a very real possibility in the near future.

    Some things to look out for in 2009: His right hand man and first NCAA Champion Casey Cunningham was lured away by Iowa State. Mark Disalvo, a 2x All American (and a classic Central Michigan overachiever) has filled in nicely but who will train the Central Michigan upper weights? Wynn Mikahlik, NCAA Runner-up, and the Sinnott twins are going to have to try and fill the shoes of Casey Cunningham.  This year's version of the Chippewas will be a little wet behind the ears, but they sky is the limit for this young team in the coming years.2. Tom Brands, Iowa (Big Ten) Athletic Director Gary Barta: Its hard to argue with winning. Tom Brands restored the marquee program in college wrestling to prominence by winning the NCAA tournament with Iowa in just his second year as their head coach. It is hard to imagine how things could get any better, but he just might make it happen. Brands brought in a ridiculously talented staff this year with over half the Freestyle Olympians now residing in Iowa City. It is going to be hard to knock off Iowa this year no matter what the polls say. Wrestling is king in Iowa and Tom Brands is making the best of all the tools he has at his disposal. And at Iowa you certainly have tools.  Unlike any almost any other program in the county, Iowa is the golden child of the athletic department, as well as the marquee athletic team in the talent rich state.  But with that comes a serious pressure to win, as seen by Jim Zalesky being replaced after finishing 4th at NCAA's.  Some coaches would struggling to handle those sometimes unrealistic expectations.  But Brands is not most coaches.  Widely regarded as the most intense man in a sport full of intensity, Brands' greatest strength is the faith his wrestlers have in him.  The sign of a great leader is people's willingness to follow, and six kids were willing to give up a year of their college eligibility because they felt Tom Brands was the guy who was going to make them accomplish their goals.  Few higher compliments can be paid to a coach.   That certainly was a legal and public relations mess, but it solidified his place as a guy kids want to wrestle for.  But it's not just the "Iowa Style" kids that Brands has made successful.  One of this best moments as a coach had to be Mark Perry's first NCAA title. Perry was hardly a physical, in your face wrestler, and he and Brands butted heads on more than one occasion.   But Brands was able to get Perry over the hump, snap an eight match losing streak to Johny Hendricks (who is the type of guy I'm sure Brands dreams of coaching) and won his first NCAA title, as well as the first title for one of Brands' pupils.                     Some things to Look Out For in 2009: Loaded.  They could All American at eight weight classes, and they have six wrestlers legitimately competing for a national title. Iowa is the odds-on favorite. 3. Brian Smith, Missouri (Big 12) Athletic Director Mike Alden: Upon graduating from Michigan State, Brian Smith entered the coaching ranks by putting Western High School in Fort Lauderdale Florida on the state map. He slowly moved up the coaching ladder, stopping at Cornell and Syracuse before taking the Missouri job in 1998. Mizzou at the time was perennially in the cellar of the Big 12 and rarely considered for the top 25. Since that time Brian Smith has made the Tigers contenders for a national title. During the 2006-07 season they became the 11th program in the history of college wrestling to hold a #1 ranking, completing an astonishing rebuilding job.  They finished 3rd in 2007 and are currently ranked 4th for the 2008-9 season. Furthermore they are consistenly in the top ten in attendance, a sign of the change in culture in Columbia.  Missouri high school wrestling has also entered the national radar with such a strong college program in the state. The Columbia community is actively involved in the push to bring home a national title. So far, Brian Smith's coaching highlight was when his team stormed the stage in 2007 with two of the top individual awards at the tournament given to Ben Askren (Outstanding Wrestler award) and Matt Pell (most Pins in the least amount of time).  From Big 12 doormat, to National Championship threat, Smith's epic rebuilding job solidifies his spot.            Some things to Look Out For in 2009: Currently ranked fourth, Mizzou has outstanding upper weights. Can they punch through to the next level and produce multiple NCAA Champions.  They have plenty of oppurtunity with Raymond Jordan dropping to 174 and Nick Marable holding the preseason top ranking at 165. Also look out for Georgia native Dorian Henderson at 184 lbs. Showing outside promise is Max Askren who wrestled at the Olympic Trials and Mark Ellis at HWT.  They are one of the teams that has visions of knocking off Iowa.4. Tim Flynn, Edinboro (EIWA) Athletic Director Bruce Baumgartner: Tim Flynn is proof that it's not how much you have but what you do with what you have.  Flynn has produced 20 All Americans and National Champions Josh Koscheck and Gregor Gillespie in his decade long run at Edinboro.  What makes this impressive is that Edinboro is a 7,000 person school in the remote northwest corner of Pennsylvania where wrestling is the only sport that competes at the Division I level.  Part of the success is due to a strong tradition and support from his athletic director, former Olympian Bruce Baumgartner, but any coach that can keep Edinboro on the national radar year in and year out is worth his salt.  Flynn has less than every coach on this list in terms of budget and state of the art facilities, but keeps attracting and developing top talent.  His Fighting Scots have dominated the EWL, finished as high as 8th at the NCAA Tournament, and have done it all without the glitz and glamor of programs like Iowa and Oklahoma State.

        Some things to Look Out For in 2009:  Edinboro made headlines this summer by accepting the transfers of mega-talent Garrett Scott and former NCAA Champion Paul Donahoe, who each were dismissed from their previous schools.  Donahoe will wrestle during the 2nd semester, and joins a lineup with former NCAA Champ and human highlight film Gregor Gillespie, as well as potential All Americans Jarrod King and Chris Honeycutt.  Look for another EWL championship and a high finish at NCAA's for the Fighting Scots.   5. J Robinson, Minnesota (Big 10)  Athletic Director Joel Maturi: J Robinson built Minnesota from the ground up. He left Iowa over an ugly dispute over camp funds and set out to make his mark at a new program. He left coaching altogether, before resurfacing in the Big Ten at Minnesota. He took the team that was an afterthought and made it a perennial powerhouse squad. In his 17 years at Minnesota he is 318-103-3, and has coached 11 wrestlers to National Titles.  His team has also won three national titles and holds more trophies at the University of Minnesota than any other program. In 2001 after several heartbreak finishes at the NCAA championship J Robinson won the Tournament without a single NCAA Champion but an unheard of 10 All Americans. In 2002 the Gophers successfully defended their title. He also added a National Title in 2007.  J Robinson is nothing less than an iconic figure in wrestling and to some extent, in the Twin Cities metro area. However, his real legacy and influence may be made with his intensive camp system he pioneered. His camp blueprint has created one of the major systems of funding for college wrestling, and its alumns include a host of All Americans and National Champions.  He also is one of the great ambassadors of the sport, and his contributions extend far beyond competition. Few market wrestling quite like J Robinson.  He started the Border Brawl event between Iowa and Minnesota that became the biggest dual in the sport. He has done everything under the sun to promote his program and wrestling at University of Minnesota, particularly with his outside the box and controversial thinking. Besides his team making headlines he will often make the news in the Minneapolis area with his outspoken opinions. J Robinson holds more titles than anyone else on this list except for John Smith. He is not invincible, as his Gophers underachieved last season, where they were predicted to run away with a National Championship, but Robinson's squad is looking to turn the page and return to glory this year.            Some things to Look Out For in 2009:   Marty Morgan, J Robinson's right hand man left the staff to coach one of Minnesota's all time best wrestlers Brock Lesnar in MMA. How will the Gophers staff and team respond? The Gophers shouldn't be in title competition right now but they have an extremely young and talented team. They had arguably one the best recruiting classes in the nation last year, even after losing Jake Deitchler to the Olympic Training Center.  And while a team title may be a stretch, they have plenty of wrestlers capable of winning it all.  Jayson Ness was the odds-on favorite at 125, leading the nation in falls and finishing as Big Ten and NCAA runner up.  He moves up to 133 looking to make one more step up the podium.  They also return former NCAA Champ Dustin Schlatter, who is also bumping up a weight class in search of another title.  Another guy to keep your eye on is red-shirt freshman Zach Sanders.  Sanders is the most decorated wrestler in Minnesota state history, and should make an immediate impact in the lineup. 6. John Smith, Oklahoma State (Big 12) Athletic Director Mike Holder: Not many people have five NCAA titles to their coaching names. Then again, not many people are John Smith.  Smith is possibly the most decorated wrestler in American history, and has only expanded his legend in the coaching realm.  Smith took over a program decimated by NCAA sanctions at the tender age of 28.   He won an NCAA title in just his second season, but then Cowboys endured a ten year drought, watching Iowa and Minnesota pass them on the national scene. However, Smith brought the Cowboys back to glory in 2003 with an NCAA title as a mature and seasoned head coach. This was the beginning of a Cowboy four-peat, highlighted by one of the greatest teams in history.  The 2005 installment of the Cowboys crowned five NCAA champions, the most in history.  They also set an NCAA record for points scored and margin of victory. All in all, Smith has crowned 23 National Champions, and no doubt has many more on the way.  Few coaches have the international experience or the ability to surround themselves with championship caliber assistants like Smith.  Any wrestler would be crazy not to want to pick his brain.    

            Some things to Look Out For in 2009:  Obe Blanc, Jamal Parks, Clayton Foster, Brandon Mason and Jared Rosholt are wrestlers to watch for the Cowboys. Blanc is a former All American who transfers to Stillwater from Lock Haven after an Olympic red-shirt year.  Parks is a high school national champ that is fast, entertaining to watch, and in a wide open weight class. Clayton Foster just took 3rd in the Junior Worlds this summer, which some consider the second toughest tournament in the world. Brandon Mason moves down to 165, is vicious on top, and has already been on the podium.  And Jared Rosholt is ranked #1 in the preseason ranking at heavyweight. 
7. Rob Koll, Cornell (Ivy League) Athletic Director Andrew Noel Jr:   Rob Koll has taken the Cornell program to a point where it is a top contender for an NCAA Championship. And unlike any other coach on this list, he has done it without the aid of scholarships or red-shirt years, both not allowed by the Ivy League.  He also has to deal with the rigid academic standards that come with the Ivy League.  But despite these challenges, Koll has built a national power, unseating Lehigh as the dominant force in the EIWA and has put together a team with a realistic shot at a National Title.  He has not only built up the team he has built up the facilities. Through his savy business skills Rob Koll has found a way to build a standalone wrestling facility for his team that ranks as one of the best in the nation.  This will only help him draw blue-chippers to Ithaca.  Facility improvements, a top notch education, and the ability to compete for a winner are the selling points Koll has used to attract some of the nation's best recruiting classes.  He has bucked the common knowledge that great schools can't also have great wrestling, especially if they don't even have scholarships to give.

            Some things to Look Out For in 2009:  Cornell is in the hunt!!! The last NCAA Championship that Cornell won in any sport was in 1977 with a title in Mens Lacrosse, but the Big Red have as good a chance as anybody this season.  They have six former All Americans in their lineup, welcoming back National Champion Jordan Leen, Mack Lewnes, Steve Anceravage, and Mike Grey, and former All Americans returning from injury Troy Nickerson and Josh Arnone.8. Cael Sanderson, Iowa State (Big 12) Athletic Director Jamie Pollard:  When the Ohio State job opened up two years back, it set the wrestling coaching carousal in motion.  Cael Sanderson's name was rumored to be at the top of the Buckeyes short list.  Afraid to repeat their mistake from decades ago when Iowa State let legend Dan Gable flee to Iowa, the Cyclones acted quickly, announcing that Bobby Douglas had resigned at that they were hiring Sanderson effective immediately.  Everybody in wrestling knows of Sanderson's accomplishments.  Just like John Smith, he took over his alma mater at the age of 28.  In his first season, Sanderson was named National Coach of the Year, and the Cyclones were national runners up.  He also coached his first of what will be many national champions, with Trent Paulson claiming the title at 157 pounds.  Sanderson has the ability to put together stellar recruiting classes, as few high school wrestlers are able to say no to possibly the greatest collegiate wrestler in American history.  Iowa State has become a haven for upper weights, as the chance to roll around with Cael is one almost every wrestler dreams of.  

        Some things to Look Out for in 2009:  Some polls have the Cyclones ranked first, ahead of defending champ and archrival Iowa.  This is based on their incredible tournament strength, with potential National Champions Nick Fanthorpe, Nick Gallick, Cyler Sanderson, Jon Reader, Jake Varner, and David Zabriskie in the lineup.  They also match up well with the Hawkeyes in a dual setting.  Hopes are justifiably high in Ames this season.9. Tom Ryan, Ohio State (Big 10) Athletic Director Gene Smith:  For years, Ohio State was seen as a sleeping giant in college wrestling.  With all of the high school talent dripping out of Ohio, it was just a matter of time before the Buckeyes were one of the best teams in the country.  In any college sport, they key to success first and foremost is winning your turf.  This was Ohio State's problem, as top programs across the country came and plucked top talent right out of Ohio.  Not so anymore.  Tom Ryan established himself as one of the premier head coaches in the country by turning Hofstra into one of the best teams in the country, building a program at a school with no tradition, little support, and a conference with few qualifiers.  His success at Hofstra drew the Buckeyes attention, and his hire has paid off nicely.  The Buckeyes finished second in the country last season and crowned two national champions, including Mike Pucillio, who followed Ryan from Hofstra.  Almost more importantly, Ryan has started his domiance in Ohio recruting, signing Tony Jameson and Sean Nemac, as well as securing commitments from prep studs Colin Palmer and Logan Steiber.  If Ryan consistently wins Ohio, there is no reason he won't also win a National Championship.

    Some things to Look Out for in 2009:  With National Champions J Jaggers and Pucillio back, the Buckeyes feel like they can knock off Iowa for a National Title.  They'll need to replace National Runner up J.D. Bergman, but with Lance Palmer back at 149, Nikko Triggas and Reece Humphrey ready to make the leap from good to great, and high impact transfers Dave Rella and Cody Gardner making their debut, the Buckeyes will be right back in the thick of things. 10. Pat Santoro, Lehigh (EIWA) Athletic Director Joe Sterrett: Lehigh has entrusted former assistant Pat Santoro to return their program to glory after a rough 2007-08 season.  Santoro's rebuilding job seems to be ahead of schedule after the season's opening weekend where he defeated his former team, the 17th ranked Maryland Terripans.  Santoro had previously been the coach at Maryland for five seasons, overseeing one of the best turnarounds in any NCAA sport.  Maryland was a doormat in the ACC, operated with virtually no scholarships, and the program was at a crossroads.  Rather than drop the program, Maryland hired Santoro away from Lehigh and started the Fear the Turtle program, which led to the full funding of all their men's sports.  Blessed with the full compliment of scholarships, Santoro built a program on the verge of being a national power.  Last year, the Terps finished 17th at NCAA's, and Hudson Taylor was the first Terp All American in over a decade.  Both of these accomplishments seemed unheard of when Santoro took the job.  Lehigh hired him away from Maryland in part because he has led to Lehigh's decline.  Maryland's current roster looks like a Lehigh roster during their glory run in the early 2000s.  He has stolen kids away from Pennsylvania, specifically the Lehigh Valley, and Blair Academy, and those important pipelines have been a key to Maryland's resurgence.  If he can bring those ties with him to Lehigh, watch out.  

    Some things to Look Out for in 2009:  Lehigh's squad already looks improved after one dual.  Four wrestlers made their debut, with John McDonald and Zach Rey winning.  The key for Lehigh's tournament strength will be the performance of David Craig, the stud in their lineup.  Craig was the nation's top recruit and made the Round of 12 as a true freshman.  But his sophomore campaign was a bumpy one, and he spent the second semester on the bench due to academic issues.  If everything is back in order, Craig should contend to All American, and be the first step in Santoro's rebuilding project at Lehigh.    
Ten Coaches Who Need to Win

1. Tom Minkel (Michigan State): Once upon a time, Michigan State was one of the flagship programs of the Big Ten.  They are one of only seven different schools to win a National Championship since 1960.  But last season, the Spartans qualified just one wrestler for the NCAA Tournament. Seeing that the Big Ten received over 70 qualifiers, this number is particularly damning.  Michigan and Central Michigan have consistently been beating them to top level in-state kids, and although Michigan State has had stars in the past few years, they have struggled to develop a deep lineup.  This has the natives restless.  Tom Minkel needs a breakout year in a big way. His contract is winding down and there certainly are candidates eyeing this potential opening.

2. Thom Ortiz (Arizona State): Like Michigan State, Arizona State is one of the seven schools to win a title since 1960. Also like Michigan State, they no longer are a perennial top five team. However, unlike the Spartans, the consequences have been dire in Tempe.  The Sun Devils, once the premier program in the Pac-10, barely survived their athletic department's chopping block after last season. A few powerful alumni donated a boatload of money, and will expect a return on their investment. Therefore, Arizona State's struggles at the NCAA Tournament need to end soon. Anthony Robles will certainly be an impact wrestler this season, but more are necessary to restore this team to prominance.

3. Carl Adams (Boston University): There are number of disadvantages that Carl Adams has at Boston University. The first is that Massachusetts hardly provides him with a fertile recruiting base. Second, he is the third fiddle of winter sports at BU, where hockey is the undisputed king, and basketball is among the top programs in the American East. But he does have an advantage that many coaches across the county, including some in much bigger conferences do not: a full compliment of scholarships. In a day in age where so few schools have the allotted 9.9, BU needs to be able to produce more than one All American every 20 years. Mike Roberts certainly had a good year last season, and Hunter Meys was a big recruit, but these need to be the exception, not the rule, if BU wants to be a more national player, and if the balance of power will start to swing from the midwest to the east.

4. C.D. Mock (North Carolina): C.D. Mock certainly has recruited well, but does not have the expected national accomplishments to show for it in his tenure at North Carolina. He has had success in the ACC, winning a pair of conference titles, but has not been able to translate it into significant national success, with only Evan Sola attaining All American status under Mock. He has recruited Pennsylvania especially well, but the slew of highly touted wrestlers from the Keystone State have underachieved. Some in the Tar Heel camp fear that Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina State have passed UNC in the race for the ACC. In an ever improving conference, it's important that Mock and the Tar Heels keep up.

5. Rocky Bonomo (Lock Haven): Years ago, it was Lock Haven that was the dominant small program in Pennsylvania. Like Edinboro, Lock Haven is a small Division II school competing at the Division I level in wrestling. They too have a strong tradition of nationally competitive teams, with studs like Cary Kolat and Jamarr Billman both wrestling here.  The expectation of many in Pennsylvania is that they should still be strong. However, Pennsylvania talent has increasingly gone to Penn State, Lehigh, and Edinboro when they stay in state. There also has been a huge flock of talent leaving the state, particularly to go to the ACC.  This is partly responsible for that conference's resurgence, but also for the regression of schools like Lock Haven, East Stroudsburg, and Clarion. If Bonomo is going to turn the program around, he is going to need to start keeping some of these kids in state.

6. Jack Spates (Oklahoma): You might wonder what a guy who has had more top five finishes than 90% of the coaches on this list is doing on the hot seat. But a 39th place finish at last years nationals will put the heat on for any Oklahoma sport. Part of Jack Spates ailments may be contributed to Oklahoma's high school wrestling settling into the second tier nationally.  Clearly, there is work to do here.  They've started by revamping the coaching staff, the backbone of any successful program, as well as their facilities.  Jack Spates has recently raised the money and built a state of the art facility that has upped the ante on the the spending war between programs. Furthermore Jack Spates brought in Michael Lightner, former 4x All American and NCAA Champ, plus they have renovated their wrestling room, which gives them an advantage both functionally as well as the "wow" factor for recruits.  But with these new tools in place, success will be the expectation.  In early season competition at the Brockport Open the Sooners look stronger, knocking off Edinboro, Central Michigan and Kent State, all ranked opponents. With Oklahoma's tradition and history, the facilities they have, and the support from the Administration they need to be knocking on the door to the top ten and be moving towards the top five for next year.

 
7. Jim Beichner (Buffalo): Coach Beichner has accomplished some pretty phenominal things at the University of Buffalo.  He took over a program in the late 1990s that had won six matches combined in the four years before he was hired.  In his first five years, Beichner's teams had won 50 matches.  He's coached an All American in Kyle Cerminara, and revived a lifeless program.  Now it is time for Buffalo to take the next step.  They are one of the MAC's fully funded programs, and as we've seen earlier in this list, it is possible to be a national caliber team in that conference, just ask Tom Borrelli.  Tom Ryan built Hofstra's program around New York kids, for whom Buffalo is the only other option in the state.  Buffalo is also painfully close to both western Pennsylvania and Cleveland, two wrestling hotbeds.  If Coach Beichner can tap into these advantages, his program could be a sleeping giant.
 
8. Randy Stottlemeyer (Pittsburgh): Coach Stottlemeyer is an institution at Pitt.  He is one of the longest tenured coaches in the country, approaching his 30th year as head coach.  But it is tough to look at Pitt's program and think of the potential.  Located in the heart of wrestling country, Pitt has never struggled to bring in top notch talent.  But Pitt has had a problem getting over the hump and becoming the national program that they should be.  Keith Gavin the last two seasons certainly was a great story, but National Champions are too few and far between at this school.  This is a top 10 team waiting to happen, but they've even slipped in dominance in their own conference, watching Edinboro pass them in the last few years.  There are plenty of good kids at Pitt, most notably red-shirt freshman Tyler Nauman, but it's time for Pitt to be among the best programs in the country.   
 
9 Brad Penrith (University of Northern Iowa): Northern Iowa has always been the little brother of Iowa college wrestling.  It is tough operating in the shadow of Iowa and Iowa State, but the Northern Iowa advantage is in it is in Iowa.  I've alluded to Pennsylvania and Ohio as being the two strongest states in the country, but Iowa is the most wrestling crazy.  Traditionally, Northern Iowa has been very strong, but Coach Penrith's career record of 70-57 is underwhelming.  On one hand, I give him credit for going out and scheduling tough opponents, but they also compete in the Western Region, and their conference schedule is hardly like wrestling in the Big Ten.  Northern Iowa has posed as a major program for a while, but needs the consistency to actually be one. 
 
10. Dave Amato (Brown University): There is a deep divide in the Ivy League.  Cornell, Penn, and Harvard have clearly pulled away as the class of the league, leaving Columbia, Princeton, and Brown a step behind.  But Columbia has had a two time All American, Matt Palmer, in the recent past, and Princeton has just hired Chris Ayers, a young member of the Pat Santoro coaching tree.  Amato has been at Brown for twenty five years, but has only produced two All Americans, none since 1998.  Brown also has only had two winning seasons in the last decade.  They are hampered by a lack of scholarships in a major conference, which makes this one of the more difficult jobs in the country.  But the results have not been there.
 

University of Minnesota Press Release
Marty Morgan Steps Down From ‘U’ Wrestling Post 
Head assistant wrestling coach Marty Morgan resigned from his position at the University of Minnesota on Tuesday afternoon after 16 years with the program. Morgan will go on to train former Gopher All-American wrestler Brock Lesnar, a popular Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) competitor, on a full-time basis.  
“I’m going to step back for a year to help Brock [Lesnar] train and I’ll see where I’m at next summer. I’ve been working with Brock [Lesnar] the past few years on his training and now I’ve been offered a unique opportunity to work with him full time.” Morgan said. “This has definitely been a difficult decision, considering that I have been involved with the program for 20 years as an athlete and coach. I am happy to have a great relationship with the University of Minnesota administration, J Robinson, the wrestling staff, past and current team members, and numerous fans around this great wrestling state.” 
A native of Bloomington, Minn., Morgan began his collegiate wrestling career at North Dakota State where he won a Division II national championship as a true freshman before transferring to Minnesota. Morgan was a three-time All-American for the Gophers and won a national title at 177 pounds as a senior in 1991. With a 39-0 record during his senior season, Morgan became the first wrestler in school history to finish with an unblemished record and is one of just three wrestlers in Minnesota history to accomplish that feat. He capped off his career with the Big Ten Medal of Honor, which is awarded to a Big Ten student-athlete who demonstrates excellence in academics and athletics.  
Morgan was the top assistant under head coach J Robinson for 13 of his 16 seasons with the program. During his time at Minnesota, Morgan helped secure Minnesota Wrestling’s status as one of the most storied and successful programs in the nation. Under Morgan’s watch, the Gophers attracted some of the nation’s most sought-after recruits on a regular basis and won national titles in 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2006-07. The Gophers have also captured six Big Ten Conference championships under Morgan’s tutelage. 
“Marty has been around Minnesota Wrestling for 20 years, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him to step away for a year and to see what else is out there,” head coach J Robinson said. “I think it’s important for people to see different opportunities that life has to offer from a different perspective and a year away from the program can provide that perspective for Marty. He will be obviously missed this year with the way we do things, but we look forward to working with him in the future.” 
The Gopher wrestling program, which boasts one of the nation’s highest-rated recruiting classes again this year, begins its 2008-09 season with the Bison Open in Fargo, N.D. on Nov. 15. Minnesota’s first home wrestling event comes when the Gophers host fellow perennial national power Oklahoma State in a New Year’s Day dual at the Sports Pavilion.