Ames, Iowa – Iowa State Athletics announced head wrestling coach Kevin Dresser has signed a four-year contract extension through June 30, 2029.
Dresser, who took over a 2-12 program, has transformed Iowa State wrestling into a top-5 team. Under his leadership, the Cyclones won their first Big 12 Conference title since 2009 and achieved their best NCAA Championship finish since 2010, a fourth-place finish.
Iowa State Athletics Director Jamie Pollard expressed enthusiasm for Dresser’s extension: “We are excited Kevin has agreed to a contract extension through 2029. Kevin and his staff have done a tremendous job revitalizing our wrestling program, and we look forward to continued success under their leadership. The success and excitement surrounding the program is exactly what we expected when we hired Kevin. He has more than delivered in helping us achieve that goal.”
When Dresser joined Iowa State, the program had scored just one point at the 2017 NCAA Championships. In his eight seasons, he has coached 10 Big 12 champions and 13 NCAA All-Americans, including Cyclone legacy David Carr, a four-time Big 12 champion and two-time NCAA champion.
Dresser has also changed the atmosphere at Hilton Coliseum. During the 2023-24 season, Iowa State averaged 6,690 fans per dual, ranking third nationally and marking its highest home attendance in the Big 12 era. For comparison, Senior Day attendance in 2017 was just over 2,000.
Dresser shared his gratitude in the team’s news release: “On behalf of my staff and our team, I want to thank Jamie (Pollard) and everyone in this department for helping us get to this point. College athletics is increasingly challenging, and this staff is committed to putting a great product on the mat every season. This will be a fun team to watch in 2024-25! We look forward to the future in Ames with great anticipation and to the challenge of winning at the highest level.”
Dresser’s coaching accolades at Iowa State include two Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2019 and 2024, as well as the 2019 National Wrestling Coaches Association Coach of the Year award. Most recently, he was named the 2024 Big 12 Coach of the Year.
