Former Iowa State gold medalist Kevin Jackson hopes his connection to the program and his experience coaching the 2008 U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling team make him a contender to become the next coach of the Cyclones.
Jackson, a captain and all-American on Iowa State’s last NCAA championship team in 1987, said he has made his interest known to Iowa State officials.
“With my experience, my knowledge and my years in wrestling coaching training, standing next to Terry and Tom (Brands) and also being trained by Dan Gable and being around Bobby Douglas, “Jackson said, “there is no better candidate for the job than I am.”
Tom Brands is the current coach at rival Iowa, while Terry Brands helped Jackson coach the U.S. team last August at the Beijing Olympics.
Bobby Douglas coached Iowa State before the program was taken over by Cael Sanderson, the popular coach who recently resigned to accept the top job at Penn State.
Jackson said after trying to contact Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard about the Cyclones’ opening, he was told by senior associate athletic director David Harris to submit his material.
Arizona State also is seeking a head coach – and Jackson said he has applied for that position.
“If I’m their No. 1 choice (at Iowa State), I’ll stay in the mix, “Jackson said. “If I’m not their No. 1 choice, I have Arizona State that I also have applied for.”
Jackson said he hopes to talk with Pollard as early as today in an effort to determine if he fits into the Iowa State picture.
“The rivalry between Iowa and Iowa State is what intrigues me the most because I am a Cyclone, “he said.
Jackson, who won freestyle world championships in 1991 and 1995 in addition to his Olympic gold in 1992, has never been a head coach at the college level.
He served as national freestyle coach for USA Wrestling between 2001 and 2008. He is currently head coach for the Arizona-based Sunkist Kids club program.
“I would beat my head against a wall if a Hawkeye got that job, one, and two, if the right man did not get that job because I know what it’s going to take to compete against Iowa, to beat Iowa, also to contend for a national championship, “Jackson said.
“You have a team right now at Iowa State that’s capable of not only beating (Iowa) in a dual, but they’re capable of dominating that dual meet and they’re capable of winning the national championship. It’s going to take an above-average coach to withstand what Iowa’s bringing to the table.”
Meanwhile, Boise State coach Greg Randall is happy staying put – but said he could be lured away.
Randall, a four-time state champion for Mount Vernon, on Thursday said the Iowa State opening is intriguing.
“It would bring a new challenge, that’s for sure, and a lot of pressure, “said Randall, who is 74-26 in seven seasons with the Broncos. “I don’t mind pressure because that’s when I work the best. I know it would be totally different from this job.”
Randall, a three-time all-American at Iowa, said one detail needs to be worked out.
“I haven’t even been contacted (by Iowa State), “Randall said. “Maybe I won’t, maybe I will. We’ll see.
“I’m not looking to go anywhere right now, but if the right job came to me and my family was happy with it, we’d probably do it.”
One known candidate for the job is Tennessee-Chattanooga coach Chris Bono, a former NCAA champion and assistant coach at Iowa State.
Ohio State assistant Joe Heskett, an NCAA champion and four-time finalist for the Cyclones, has declined comment when asked whether he has interest in the position or has been contacted by Cyclone officials.
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