Greco-Roman Olympian Joe Rau returns as Northwestern assistant coach
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by Northwestern Athletics
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern wrestling welcomed Olympian Joe Rau back to the coaching staff, head coach Matt Storniolo announced Tuesday. Rau, who spent two seasons with Northwestern from 2021 to 2023, rejoins Storniolo's staff as an assistant coach.
"I am thrilled to announce Joe is back with us," said Storniolo, "He has been an integral part of our program as both an RTC athlete and assistant coach going back over five years now. He brings a ton of energy and personality to the wrestling room every day. Everyone is excited to have Joe back on staff, especially our upper weights."
Rau returns to Evanston after competing at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, where he wrestled at 97 kg in Greco-Roman. This summer's games added to an already impressive professional resumé for Rau, who owns three US Open championships (2016, 2019, 2023) and three Pan American gold medals (2015, 2020, 2023).
Back with the 'Cats, Rau will once again work with Northwestern's upper weights. One of the highlights of Rau's successful first stint with the Wildcats was the development of heavyweight Lucas Davison, who secured All-American honors in 2022 and 2023. Under Rau's tutelage, Davison wrestled to a fifth-place finish at 285 lbs at the 2023 NCAA Championships - the highest finish by a Northwestern heavyweight in the event in nearly a decade.
One of the most accomplished wrestlers in Elmhurst College history, Rau capped off a record-setting collegiate career of his own with a DIII National Championship at 184 lbs. A three-time All-American with the Bluejays, he was named CCIW's Most Outstanding Wrestler in 2013 following his fourth straight conference championship. Rau's .846 career winning percentage remains the highest by a wrestler in Elmhurst program history.
