North Iowa Sports Story
Wrestling: Sanderson enjoying time as assistant coach
By KIRK HARDCASTLE, Of The Globe Gazette
CHARLES CITY ” One by one the Charles City high school students asked for an autograph or a picture.
And one by one, Olympic wrestling champion Cael Sanderson signed and offered a smile and a handshake.
Friday afternoon after an assembly in the Comet gym, Sanderson signed everything from the back of a cell phone to wrestling shoes to a Wheaties box he graced the cover of when he was a four-time NCAA champion at Iowa State.
Sanderson is enjoying life as an Olympic champion.
Everybody wanted a piece of what some call the greatest amateur wrestler of all time.
“Oh, he enjoys it, “Iowa State coach Bobby Douglas said. “Look at him. I think he’s having fun.”
And everybody wanted to know what’s in store for the wrestler that went 159-0 in college and won the gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
Right now, Sanderson is happy being a full-time assistant coach under Douglas at Iowa State.
“I’m definitely content on being a coach right now, “said Sanderson, who helped conduct a wrestling clinic Friday afternoon. “It’s a job where you can do so much. I’m definitely content as a coach right now.”
And Douglas, who was an assistant coach on the 2004 United States Olympic team, said his new assistant is doing just fine.
Before winning the gold medal in Athens, Sanderson spent two years as an administrative assistant to Iowa State athletic director Bruce Van De Velde.
“He has a passion for coaching, “Douglas said. “The kids obviously respond real well to him.
“He motivates with just his presence. I think he has a great career ahead of him.”
And that career might be as a collegiate head coach.
“I’m trying to learn how to be a head coach, “he said. “There’s no better place to learn than from Coach Douglas.”
Sanderson, who pinned 23 of his 40 opponents during his senior year at Iowa State in 2002, said he had to get used to a few things during the 2004-2005 wrestling season.
Normally on meet days, he’d get to Hilton Coliseum early and start preparing to wrestle.
“I’m used to getting ready to go, “he said. “So it’s a little different feeling. I feel myself naturally kind of getting ready for a match.”
And it was also different for Sanderson once the dual meet or tournament started.
Sanderson was no longer in control like he was in his 159 collegiate matches.
“You’re very limited in the control you have over your athletes, “he said. “Once they get out there, they’re on their own and sometimes you want to jump in there.”
Even though Sanderson is content on being an assistant coach, he hasn’t ruled out a return to international competition.
He did say, however, that he would have to return to competition next year if he’s going to make a run at the 2008 Olympics.
“The more time you take the harder that it will be to come back, “he said. “You definitely need a couple of years before the Olympics to get back into the swing of things. I still have some time.”
But for now, Sanderson is enjoying being an Olympic champion and an assistant wrestling coach.
Reach Kirk Hardcastle at 421-0540 or [email protected]
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