Zadick Named Interim Assistant Coach

June 14, 2010

IOWA CITY, IA — Former Hawkeye wrestler Mike Zadick has been promoted to interim assistant coach for the University of Iowa wrestling program. The announcement was made today by Head Coach Tom Brands.

Zadick is no stranger to the Hawkeye wrestling team, serving on staff for seven seasons in various capacities and earning three all-America honors at Iowa. He recently earned a spot on the 2010 U.S. Men’s Freestyle World Championships team with his win at last weekend’s U.S. World Team Trials in Council Bluffs

“I look forward to blowing the doors off this position in terms of developing our student-athletes to the highest level on and off the mat,” said Zadick. “I want to represent this staff, this program and the University of Iowa with the highest of standards.”

A 2008 Olympian, Zadick served as Iowa’s volunteer assistant coach for four seasons (2004-06, 2009-10) and as the team’s strength training coach for three seasons (2006-08). He won the 2008 U.S. Freestyle Olympic Team Trials at 132 pounds (60 kg), and earned a spot in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. “Mike has been here a long time,” said Brands. “This is something he wants to do. He is fired up about it and we are fired up about it. It is a good move for our program.”

During his tenure, Zadick has helped the Hawkeyes to three NCAA and Big Ten team titles. Since 2005, Iowa has crowned six NCAA champions, six Big Ten champions, 32 all-Americans and 33 academic all-Big Ten honorees. The Hawkeyes have posted a 103-18 dual record – including perfect seasons in 2008-09 (24-0) and 2009-10 (23-0). Iowa enters the 2010-11 season on a 61-dual match winning streak that dates back to 2007-08. Iowa’s 38-10 record in Big Ten duals the last five seasons includes three straight 8-0 campaigns, which led to Big Ten regular season titles.

Zadick was a three-time all-American (2000-02) at Iowa, winning the 149-pound Big Ten title in 2002. He won the 2009 U.S. Senior Nationals freestyle title at 60kg/132 pounds. In 2007, he was the U.S. World Team Trials champion and won a silver medal at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. Zadick’s other international accomplishments include a silver medal at the 2006 World Championships in Guangzhou, China, and runner-up finishes at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team trials and U.S. Nationals, and the 2005 World Team Trials challenge tournament.

Mike and his older brother, Bill, are part of Iowa’s tradition of brothers competing for the Hawkeyes. Bill was the 2006 World Champion at 145.5 pounds (66kg) and a two-time all-American for the Hawkeyes, winning a Big Ten and NCAA title at 142 pounds in 1996. Bill also served as Iowa’s volunteer assistant coach for the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

A native of Great Falls, MT, Zadick earned a bachelor’s degree in sports studies from the University of Iowa in 2004.