January 30, 2025
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Coaching
With just a month remaining in the NCAA wrestling regular season, the race for postseason accolades is heating up—including the coveted NCAA Division I Wrestling Coach of the Year award. Each year, The Open Mat honors a Coach of the Year across every division of college wrestling. Last season, Little Rock’s Neil Erisman took home the honor in Division I after leading his team to a 15-5 dual meet record and a top-15 ranking in The Open Mat’s final dual meet standings.
While there’s still plenty of wrestling left before the season wraps up, a few standout coaches have already made compelling cases for the award. Let’s take a closer look at five leading candidates as we head into February.
Doug Schwab has shattered expectations by nearly every metric. The former Iowa Hawkeye NCAA champion and Olympian hasn’t just made Northern Iowa relevant on the national stage—he’s transformed the program into an NCAA trophy contender. And he’s done it with fewer resources than the powerhouse programs in a state where UNI has long been viewed as the “little brother” to Iowa and Iowa State.
Schwab has built a culture of excellence, developing All-Americans, national finalists, and champions. In 2019, Drew Foster became his first NCAA champion, and now Parker Keckeisen is poised to become his first multi-time national champion after winning a title last season.
This season, UNI entered the year ranked No. 16 in the tournament rankings and No. 12 in dual meets. As of now, the Panthers have surged to No. 5 in both categories. They’ve secured marquee wins over Nebraska, captured the NWCA National Duals title, and boast a 10-1 dual meet record—losing only to Oklahoma State in front of a record-setting home crowd of over 6,000 fans.
The David Taylor era in Stillwater couldn’t have started any stronger. The Olympic and three-time world champion has reignited passion in college wrestling’s winningest program in just his first season at the helm.
The Cowboys are a perfect 11-0 in dual meets and ranked No. 3 in both the tournament and dual rankings. They’ve aced every major test so far, crushing Bedlam rival Oklahoma 35-3 and dominating perennial contender NC State 34-3. Most recently, they swept a challenging road trip against both Northern Iowa and Iowa State.
Taylor has also elevated the performance of standout wrestlers like Dean Hamiti and Wyatt Hendrickson. Fan excitement is surging as well—over 8,000 spectators packed Gallagher-Iba Arena for OSU’s most recent home dual, raising its season attendance average to an impressive 7,073.
As long as Cael Sanderson is coaching in Happy Valley, he’s going to be in the Coach of the Year conversation. The Penn State legend has guided the Nittany Lions to 11 national titles in the past 13 seasons, and they’re overwhelming favorites to claim a third straight championship this March.
Every PSU starter is ranked in the top eight of their respective weight classes, setting the stage for a historic run. It’s rare for a team to produce 10 All-Americans in a single NCAA tournament—only Minnesota (2001) has done it before—but Penn State has a real shot at pulling it off.
The Nittany Lions have been utterly dominant in dual meets, outscoring opponents 389-19 heading into their Jan. 31 showdown with No. 2 Iowa. That stretch includes four shutouts and four other duals where the opposing team managed just one match victory.
Brandon Eggum has quietly positioned Minnesota as a legitimate NCAA trophy contender—a feat few expected coming into the season. The Gophers began the year ranked No. 13 in tournament projections but climbed as high as No. 3 by December.
Minnesota has compiled a 7-1 dual meet record, including shutout wins over North Dakota State and Campbell, as well as a dominant 39-3 victory over border rival Wisconsin.
The return of Olympic champion Gable Steveson has been a major factor in Minnesota’s resurgence, but Eggum’s squad isn’t a one-man show. Redshirt freshman Max McEnelly has emerged as a star, remaining undefeated and ranked No. 4 at 184 pounds. The Gophers have a well-rounded lineup, with eight of 10 starters ranked in the top 20 by The Open Mat.
Ohio State has been a national powerhouse since Tom Ryan took over nearly two decades ago, and this season is no exception. Ryan consistently recruits at an elite level and develops wrestlers into All-Americans and national champions.
Unlike many top programs, Ohio State has avoided heavy reliance on the transfer portal. Ryan values loyalty and development over quick fixes. “We could have had a lot of guys, but I’m not going to replace a No. 7 with a No. 2,” Ryan recently said on The Athletor podcast. “I’m not going to do it. I’m not going to replace a guy that’s ranked and has given me everything he has. We’re not there yet.”
The Buckeyes have also faced adversity. Last season, four-time All-American Sammy Sasso was shot in an attempted carjacking but has since made a remarkable return. This year, Ryan navigated a potential transfer situation involving one of his All-Americans, ultimately keeping him in Columbus.
Despite these challenges, Ohio State is 11-1 in duals and in strong position to contend for an NCAA team trophy. Led by returning national champion Jesse Mendez (141), the Buckeyes have five wrestlers ranked in the top 10.
With just a month remaining in the regular season, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Coach of the Year race is as competitive as ever. Doug Schwab’s remarkable job at Northern Iowa, David Taylor’s electric debut at Oklahoma State, and Cael Sanderson’s continued dominance at Penn State all make compelling cases. Meanwhile, Brandon Eggum has led a surprising resurgence at Minnesota, and Tom Ryan has kept Ohio State in the national conversation despite adversity.
As the season winds down and the NCAA Championships approach, these coaches will look to cement their legacies. Who will take home The Open Mat’s top coaching honor? Time—and the postseason—will tell.
