NWCA names Tom Brands of Iowa its 2021 NCAA Division I National Coach of the Year
by NWCA and Chris Brewer of Univ. of Iowa
St Louis, MO – On Wednesday the National Wrestling Coaches Association announced the NCAA Division I National Coach of the Year and seven finalists as selected by their peers. The award is presented to the coach that has demonstrated outstanding effort throughout the season in developing and elevating their program on campus and in the community.
The NWCA National Coach of the Year awards program is presented by Defense Soap, the official Hygiene partner of the NWCA.
“In continuing our mission, Defense Soap is proud to partner with the NWCA, to keep wrestlers on the mat with our products and education in hygiene.” Guy Sako, Founder and CEO of Defense Soap.
The recipient of this year's NCAA Division I National Coach of the Year is Tom Brands of the University of Iowa. Coach Brands is in his 15th year as Head Coach at Iowa and his achievements this season include a 5-0 dual record, Co-Big Ten regular-season title, Big Ten tournament championship, nine wrestlers with automatic NCAA berths, and a tenth wrestler received an at-large birth. Entering the NCAA tournament, four Hawkeyes have the top seed in their respective weight classes.
“On behalf of the NWCA and our Board of Directors, it is my privilege to award Coach Tom Brands, for the second year in a row, the NWCA Division I National Coach of the Year award,” said Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director. "Tom continues to do a phenomenal job at Iowa and this season has been another demonstration of the strength of the Hawkeye wrestling program. Good luck to Coach Brands and his squad this week as they compete at the NCAA Championships."
2021 NCAA DIVISION I COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALISTS
• ACC | Pat Popolizio, North Carolina State University
• Big 10 | Tom Brands, University of Iowa
• Big 12 | Lou Rosselli, University of Oklahoma
• EIWA | Pat Santoro, Lehigh University
• MAC | Brian Smith, University of Missouri
• Pac 12 | Jason Borelli, Stanford University
• SoCon | Scotti Sentes, Campbell University
ABOUT THE NWCA
The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with a primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The three core competencies of the NWCA are: Coaching Development, Student-Athlete Welfare, and the Promotion of Wrestling.
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA RELEASE
Tom Brands Named NWCA Coach of the Year
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The National Wrestling Coaches Association announced Wednesday that for the second straight year University of Iowa head wrestling coach Tom Brands has been named NWCA National Coach of the Year.
The NWCA coaching honor is the third of Brands’ career. He was previously recognized in 2008 and 2020. The 2008 team won the NCAA Championship and the 2020 team was a heavy favorite to win the national title prior to the tournament’s cancellation.
The 2021 Hawkeyes have been ranked atop the national polls since the beginning of the season and enter the NCAA Championships with four wrestlers ranked No. 1 at their respective weight class and eight wrestlers seeded fifth or better. Iowa won the 2021 Big Ten Championship and crowned four individual conference champions.
The NWCA award is presented to the coach that has demonstrated outstanding effort throughout the season in developing and elevating their program on campus and in the community.
“On behalf of the NWCA and our Board of Directors, it is my privilege to award Coach Tom Brands, for the second year in a row, the NWCA Division I National Coach of the Year award,” said Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director. “Tom continues to do a phenomenal job at Iowa and this season has been another demonstration of the strength of the Hawkeye wrestling program. Good luck to Coach Brands and his squad this week as they compete at the NCAA Championships.”
The coaching award is the second for Brands this season. He was named Big Ten Coach of the Year following the conference tournament. The 2021 NCAA Championships begin Thursday at 10 a.m. (CT) at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Tournament information are available at the NCAA Championships page at hawkeyesports.com.
The NWCA National Coach of the Year awards program is presented by Defense Soap, the official Hygiene partner of the NWCA.
“In continuing our mission, Defense Soap is proud to partner with the NWCA, to keep wrestlers on the mat with our products and education in hygiene.” Guy Sako, Founder and CEO of Defense Soap.
The recipient of this year's NCAA Division I National Coach of the Year is Tom Brands of the University of Iowa. Coach Brands is in his 15th year as Head Coach at Iowa and his achievements this season include a 5-0 dual record, Co-Big Ten regular-season title, Big Ten tournament championship, nine wrestlers with automatic NCAA berths, and a tenth wrestler received an at-large birth. Entering the NCAA tournament, four Hawkeyes have the top seed in their respective weight classes.
“On behalf of the NWCA and our Board of Directors, it is my privilege to award Coach Tom Brands, for the second year in a row, the NWCA Division I National Coach of the Year award,” said Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director. "Tom continues to do a phenomenal job at Iowa and this season has been another demonstration of the strength of the Hawkeye wrestling program. Good luck to Coach Brands and his squad this week as they compete at the NCAA Championships."
2021 NCAA DIVISION I COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALISTS
• ACC | Pat Popolizio, North Carolina State University
• Big 10 | Tom Brands, University of Iowa
• Big 12 | Lou Rosselli, University of Oklahoma
• EIWA | Pat Santoro, Lehigh University
• MAC | Brian Smith, University of Missouri
• Pac 12 | Jason Borelli, Stanford University
• SoCon | Scotti Sentes, Campbell University
ABOUT THE NWCA
The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with a primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The three core competencies of the NWCA are: Coaching Development, Student-Athlete Welfare, and the Promotion of Wrestling.
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA RELEASE
Tom Brands Named NWCA Coach of the Year
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The National Wrestling Coaches Association announced Wednesday that for the second straight year University of Iowa head wrestling coach Tom Brands has been named NWCA National Coach of the Year.
The NWCA coaching honor is the third of Brands’ career. He was previously recognized in 2008 and 2020. The 2008 team won the NCAA Championship and the 2020 team was a heavy favorite to win the national title prior to the tournament’s cancellation.
The 2021 Hawkeyes have been ranked atop the national polls since the beginning of the season and enter the NCAA Championships with four wrestlers ranked No. 1 at their respective weight class and eight wrestlers seeded fifth or better. Iowa won the 2021 Big Ten Championship and crowned four individual conference champions.
The NWCA award is presented to the coach that has demonstrated outstanding effort throughout the season in developing and elevating their program on campus and in the community.
“On behalf of the NWCA and our Board of Directors, it is my privilege to award Coach Tom Brands, for the second year in a row, the NWCA Division I National Coach of the Year award,” said Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director. “Tom continues to do a phenomenal job at Iowa and this season has been another demonstration of the strength of the Hawkeye wrestling program. Good luck to Coach Brands and his squad this week as they compete at the NCAA Championships.”
The coaching award is the second for Brands this season. He was named Big Ten Coach of the Year following the conference tournament. The 2021 NCAA Championships begin Thursday at 10 a.m. (CT) at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Tournament information are available at the NCAA Championships page at hawkeyesports.com.
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