Oct. 1, 2008
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IOWA CITY, IA — Two-time World Champion and 2000 Olympic bronze medalist Terry Brands returns to the University of Iowa wrestling program to serve as an assistant coach. His twin brother, Tom, is the head coach of the Hawkeyes.
“I am thrilled that my brother is joining our staff,” said Tom Brands. “His work ethic, intensity and coaching experience will give our entire staff a boost.”
Brands joins the Hawkeye staff after a three-year stint (2005-08) as USA Wrestling’s National Freestyle Resident Coach in Colorado Springs, CO. During his tenure, Brands worked with 2008 U.S. Olympic freestyle gold medalist Henry Cejudo and 2006 World champion Bill Zadick.
He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006. Terry and Tom, who was inducted in 2001, were the first set of twins to earn hall of fame spots.
“We are delighted to have Terry Brands as our assistant wrestling coach,” said Associate Director of Athletics Fred Mims. “He brings a wealth of experience in working with elite athletes which will benefit our program tremendously”. Brands was a two-time NCAA champion, three-time all-American and three-time Big Ten champion for the Hawkeyes (1989-92) at 126 pounds. He ended his career at Iowa with a 137-7 record. He still ranks fourth in season wins (43 – 1990-91) and career record, fifth in career wins (137), sixth in career pins (48) and ninth in season pins (18 – 1990-91). He is one of 18 Hawkeyes to post an undefeated season record, going 35-0 in 1991-92.
His collegiate coaching experience includes three years as head coach at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (2002-05), and as an assistant coach at Montana State-Northern (2001-02), the University of Nebraska (2000-01) and the University of Iowa (1992-2000). At Chattanooga, Brands led the Mocs to the 2005 Southern Conference title, while crowning three conference champions and two all-Americans.
Brands was one of the nation’s greatest freestyle wrestlers, winning World gold medals in 1993 in Toronto, Canada, and in 1995 in Atlanta, GA, at 125.5 pounds (57 kg). As a member of the 1993 and 1995 U.S. World Teams, he was on the only two U.S. teams to win World Team Titles in freestyle.
In 1993, he won his world title with Tom, who was the World champion at 136.5 pounds (62 kg). Terry and Tom were named 1993 USA Wrestling Athlete of the Year, 1993 John Smith Freestyle Wrestler of the Year and 1993 Amateur Wrestling News Man of the Year. The Brands brothers became the first U.S. brothers to win a World title during the same year.
Brands placed second at in the 1996 U.S. Nationals and the 1996 Olympic Team Trials, falling just short of making the U.S. Olympic Team. He qualified for the 1997 and 1999 U.S. World Teams, but did not compete due to injury. In 2000, he made a comeback and won the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at 127.75 pounds (58 kg). He earned a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
Brands earned a bachelor of science degree in Human Development from the University of Iowa in 1992. He and his wife, Michelle, have a son, Nelson, and a daughter, Sydney.