Tom Brands
Encyclopedia
Tom Brands is the head wrestling
coach at the University of Iowa
. He won a gold medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics
.
An intense competitor, Brands' wrestling career with the University of Iowa
included a record of 158-7-2 and an undefeated season in 1991 where he was 45-0. He was a four-time All-American, three-time NCAA Champion, three-time Big Ten Conference
Champion, and Outstanding Wrestler at the 1992 NCAA Tournament
. His brother, Terry
, was also a standout at Iowa
.
Internationally, Brands won a gold medal
at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in freestyle at 136.5 pounds; a gold medal at the 1993 World Freestyle Championships in Toronto
; two World Cup gold medals (1994 and 1995); and the gold at the 1995 Pan American Games. He won four U.S. Nationals titles (1993–96) and made four straight U.S. World or Olympic teams (1993–96). He was named 1993 USA Wrestling Athlete of the Year, 1993 John Smith
Outstanding Freestyle Wrestler, and 1993 Amateur Wrestling News Man of the Year. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame
in 2001.
, from 1993 to 2004. Brands was named National Wrestling Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year in 2000. He also served as head coach at Virginia Tech
for two seasons. He set a record for most dual victories in a season with 16 in 2005 while taking the Atlantic Coast Conference
title and crowning 5 individual conference champions. In the spring of 2006, Tom Brands returned to the University of Iowa as head coach. Brands led the Hawkeyes to national titles in 2008, 2009, and 2010.
were both coached by Dan Gable
. Brands has authored several instructional VHS/DVD products that teach and advocate his "in-your-face" style of wrestling.
Brands grew up in Sheldon, Iowa
and holds a bachelor of science degree in physical education from the University of Iowa
. He is married and has three children, two daughters and a son.
Collegiate wrestling
Collegiate wrestling, sometimes known in the United States as Folkstyle wrestling, is a style of amateur wrestling practised at the collegiate and university level in the United States. Collegiate wrestling emerged from the folk wrestling styles practised in the early history of the United States...
coach at the University of Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling
The University of Iowa wrestling program is one of the most successful athletic programs in NCAA Division I. The University of Iowa Hawkeyes are a member of the Big Ten Athletic Conference. Iowa is second in NCAA history with 23 national championships, all of which have come since 1975...
. He won a gold medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
.
An intense competitor, Brands' wrestling career with the University of Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling
The University of Iowa wrestling program is one of the most successful athletic programs in NCAA Division I. The University of Iowa Hawkeyes are a member of the Big Ten Athletic Conference. Iowa is second in NCAA history with 23 national championships, all of which have come since 1975...
included a record of 158-7-2 and an undefeated season in 1991 where he was 45-0. He was a four-time All-American, three-time NCAA Champion, three-time Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
Champion, and Outstanding Wrestler at the 1992 NCAA Tournament
NCAA Wrestling Team Championship
The NCAA Wrestling Team Championship was first officially awarded in 1929 and began to be continuously awarded on an annual basis in 1934 except during World War II 1943-1945. In 1928 and from 1931 to 1933, there was only an unofficial title. Oklahoma A&M, now Oklahoma State, won the 1928, 1931...
. His brother, Terry
Terry Brands
Terry Brands is an American Olympic wrestler who won a bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics. While wrestling at the University of Iowa, Brands won NCAA titles in 1990 and 1992, both at 126 pounds. He was a two-time world freestyle champion at 58 kg, winning titles in 1993 and 1995...
, was also a standout at Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling
The University of Iowa wrestling program is one of the most successful athletic programs in NCAA Division I. The University of Iowa Hawkeyes are a member of the Big Ten Athletic Conference. Iowa is second in NCAA history with 23 national championships, all of which have come since 1975...
.
Internationally, Brands won a gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in freestyle at 136.5 pounds; a gold medal at the 1993 World Freestyle Championships in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
; two World Cup gold medals (1994 and 1995); and the gold at the 1995 Pan American Games. He won four U.S. Nationals titles (1993–96) and made four straight U.S. World or Olympic teams (1993–96). He was named 1993 USA Wrestling Athlete of the Year, 1993 John Smith
John Smith (wrestler)
John William Smith is a successful college wrestler, 6-time World Champion, 2-time Olympic Games champion, and is currently the head coach of wrestling at Oklahoma State University.-High school career:...
Outstanding Freestyle Wrestler, and 1993 Amateur Wrestling News Man of the Year. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame
National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on the campus of Oklahoma State University. The museum opened on September 11, 1976...
in 2001.
Coaching career
Brands served 12 seasons as assistant coach for the HawkeyesIowa Hawkeyes wrestling
The University of Iowa wrestling program is one of the most successful athletic programs in NCAA Division I. The University of Iowa Hawkeyes are a member of the Big Ten Athletic Conference. Iowa is second in NCAA history with 23 national championships, all of which have come since 1975...
, from 1993 to 2004. Brands was named National Wrestling Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year in 2000. He also served as head coach at Virginia Tech
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
for two seasons. He set a record for most dual victories in a season with 16 in 2005 while taking the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
title and crowning 5 individual conference champions. In the spring of 2006, Tom Brands returned to the University of Iowa as head coach. Brands led the Hawkeyes to national titles in 2008, 2009, and 2010.
| Year | Team | Overall Record | Conference Record | NCAA Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Virginia Tech | 16-4 | 5-0 (2nd) | T-42nd |
| 2006 | Virginia Tech | 1-16 | 1-4 (5th) | 29th |
| 2007 | Iowa | 14-5 | 5-3 (3rd) | 8th |
| 2008 | Iowa | 21-1 | 8-0 (1st) | 1st |
| 2009 | Iowa | 24-0 | 8-0 (1st) | 1st |
| 2010 | Iowa | 23-0 | 8-0 (1st) | 1st |
| 2011 | Iowa | 14-0-1 | 8-0 (2nd) | 3rd |
| Iowa Totals | 5 years | 97-6-1 | 37-3 (3 Titles) | 3 Titles |
Personal Info
Widely known for his intensity and aggressive style on the mat, he and his twin brother TerryTerry Brands
Terry Brands is an American Olympic wrestler who won a bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics. While wrestling at the University of Iowa, Brands won NCAA titles in 1990 and 1992, both at 126 pounds. He was a two-time world freestyle champion at 58 kg, winning titles in 1993 and 1995...
were both coached by Dan Gable
Dan Gable
Dan Gable is an American amateur wrestler. He is famous for having only lost one match in his entire Iowa State University collegiate career—his last, and winning gold at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany while not giving up a single point...
. Brands has authored several instructional VHS/DVD products that teach and advocate his "in-your-face" style of wrestling.
Brands grew up in Sheldon, Iowa
Sheldon, Iowa
Sheldon is a city in O'Brien and Sioux Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa, along the Floyd River. The population was 4,914 at the 2000 census; it is the largest city in O'Brien County.- History and culture :...
and holds a bachelor of science degree in physical education from the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
. He is married and has three children, two daughters and a son.