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Let me tell you a story behind my nickname. My first year wrestling at Iowa, after getting my butt kicked as a freshman a few times, Coach Gable and I were lifting in the weight room. I’m over there hitting some weights, doing what I had to do, and he comes around the corner chanting at me.  “Weber grill, Weber grill… turn the heat up!”  What he meant – stop slacking and push harder.  Despite the obvious dad-joke nature, it stuck. It worked to light a fire in me, and it became a sort of identity. The nickname was synonymous … Read More

Mental toughness is demanded to be successful in all sports and all walks of life.But wrestling demands a special amount to be successful. Just ask anyone that even wrestled in a gym class. But what is mental toughness and how do you achieve it? As a wrestler and more so as a coach I contemplated this for years. As a competitor, The higher the ranks I competed in, I was realistic and knew I wasn’t going to be the most athletic guy. But I did come to the point where I knew I could be the most mentally tough. And … Read More

The granby series is an extremely effective arsenal from the bottom position. Knowing how to defend it is imperative when wrestling a team that is well trained with it. Knowing how to perform a Granby roll and what to expect from a Granby wrestler while adding these key elements to your top game, can put the squash on the Granby series! How do you roll a Granby? Step 1 of Granby Roll: Chop When wrestling a Granby series opponent, an easy fix off the whistle is to switch to the opposite side off the whistle. When chopping your opponents arm, … Read More

The Single Leg Takedown is the highest percentage takedown at all levels of wrestling. Studies show that the Single Leg is used more than any other leg attack in State Tournaments, NCAA Tournaments, and even World/Olympic Championships. You get in less trouble when you hit a Single Leg with the head to the inside, even without finishing right away. With this being said, your single leg sweep takedown is only as good as your footwork. Learning a sweep single leg takedown can be a game-changer for you in the neutral position! Step 1 of a Leg Sweep: Step To Opponents … Read More

Five “Must Have” Non-Contact Wrestling Drills For Those of You Wondering… Can You Practice Wrestling By Yourself? Yes… Be sure you are using the five proven drills and exercise routines listed below to get your athletes to the next level, even if contact is limited.  The sport of wrestling clearly requires being less-than-six-feet-apart. And in a pandemic, that makes it tough to replicate match-like intensity. But does that mean you have to sacrifice skill for safety?  On the contrary. Even during a “normal” season, a well-orchestrated non-contact drill holds extreme value – as a warm-up, a teaching tool, or low-risk … Read More

Wrestling In The Time Of COVID-19 – The Complete Coach’s Handbook Click Here To Download Your Free COVID Handbook Not only will following these guidelines help to keep you and your athletes safe, it’ll keep you covered from a liability standpoint. Of course, good coaches go beyond ticking boxes. Putting athlete welfare at the forefront of your season doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice development. Successful wrestling in the time of COVID might be a bit of a balancing act. But when done correctly, you’ll inspire the type of buy-in from athletes (and their parents) that translates to an aggressive, … Read More

Dan Gable is the most successful wrestling coach of all time.  During his 21 years as the head coach at Iowa, Gable won 21 Big 10 championships and 15 NCAA team championships, including nine in a row from 1978 – 1986.  Even more impressive is that Gable and the Hawks are a comeback story. Yes, the Hawks were removed from the throne as the kings of college wrestling from 1987-1990, where Iowa finished 2nd, 2nd, 6th and 3rd at the NCAA championships.  During those years, we see Gable reflect, improve and bring Iowa back to college wrestling greatness by dominating … Read More

Turn your headache into your competitive advantage…  I used to SUCK at planning practices when I was a newer coach. I tried to do WAY too much in my practices. I was terrible at figuring out how long things would take. I got flustered when things went off course from my plans. As I got a bit more experience and tried to adjust, the pendulum just swung the opposite way: I tried to go more with the flow, but it just felt like we weren’t getting anything done. Practices were unfocused and lacked any energy or intensity.  Eventually I sat … Read More