1996 Olympic gold medalist
1993 World Champion
Three-time NCAA Champion (1990, 1991, 1992)
Outstanding Wrestler of the 1992 NCAA Championships
Four-time All-American (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992)
NCAA team titles in 1991 and 1992.
Three-time Big Ten Champion (1989, 1991, 1992)
National Wrestling Hall of Fame

2021 Spencer Lee (125)
2019 Spencer Lee (125)
2018 Spencer Lee (125)
2017 Cory Clark (133)
2014 Tony Ramos (133)
2013 Derek St. John (157)
2012 Matt McDonough (125)
2010 Matt McDonough (125)
2010 Brent Metcalf (149)
2010 Jay Borschel (174)
2008 Brent Metcalf (149)
2008 Mark Perry (165)
2007 Mark Perry (165)

2008, 2009, 2010, 2020, 2021 Big Ten Coach of the Year
2008, 2020, 2021 NWCA Coach of the Year
2000 NWCA Assistant Coach of the Year
2002, 2003 USA Wrestling Freestyle Coach of the Year
2002 Walter Camp national Coach of the Year
2000 NWCA Assistant Coach of the Year

Iowa has led the nation in attendance every year since Brands became head coach in 2006-07, setting an NCAA all-time attendance average of 14,905 in 2021-22. During that time, Carver-Hawkeye Arena has hosted the 2012 and 2016 United States Olympic Wrestling Team Trials, and the 2018 UWW World Cup, and Kinnick Stadium hosted the record-setting Grapple on the Gridiron in 2015.

Brands led Iowa to Big Ten tournament titles in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2020, and 2021, and 24 Big Ten individual champions since 2007. The Hawkeyes won Big Ten dual titles in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Brands’ wrestlers have earned 156 Academic All-Big Ten honors.

Brands was 1996 Olympic gold medalist and 1993 world champion. He has coached 20 Olympic and World Team members

Brands is 16-0 all-time against Iowa State, winning Dan Gable Traveling Trophy every year since its inception in 2010.