Gary Kurdelmeier

April 09, 1936 - October 05, 1998

After a highly successful high school wrestling career, Gary Kurdelmeier went on to the University of Iowa to earn All-American honors and a national championship. Following graduation, he joined the United States Army where he remained for six years as a member of the All-Army wrestling team.

Upon discharge he spent five years as a high school coach before returning to his alma mater in 1967 as an assistant to head coach, Dave McCuskey.

He became head coach for the Hawkeyes in 1972; and before his coaching duties completed four years later, his teams had won three conference titles and two Division One team titles. He was voted Coach of the Year honors in 1975 and 1976.

In 1977, he handed over the head coaching job to assistant, Dan Gable; and for the next nine years Kurdelmeier served as Associate Athletic Director at the University of Iowa. He established the Hawkeye Wrestling Club to promote youth wrestling and to provide post-collegiate competitors an opportunity to develop their wrestling skills for international competition. He became well known for his ability to bring media attention to wrestling through the development of unique promotional activities.

In 1985, he left Iowa to serve as Executive Director for U.S.A. Wrestling. During his three years at the helm, he helped the sport to expand and was involved in the move of the national headquarters from Stillwater, Oklahoma, to Colorado Springs, Colorado.

After a brief retirement, he provided the leadership for the formation of the wrestling program at Georgia State University, serving as coach from 1991-95. It was while he was there that he also served as a volunteer leader for the 1996 Olympic Games.

As a coach who started one of the great wrestling dynasties of all time, Gary Kurdelmeier is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Awards:

Year
2003
Award
Glen Brand Inductee
Chapter/Region
National
Year
2000
Award
Distinguished Member
Chapter/Region
National

All American Awards:

Season
2004
School
Ohio State
Tournament
Division I
Weight
184
Place
5
Season
1958
School
Iowa
Tournament
Division I
Weight
177
Place
1
Season
1956
School
Iowa
Tournament
Division I
Weight
177
Place
3

College Season Records:

Season
1958
School
Iowa
Class
Senior
Bouts
20
Wins
18
Losses
2
Ties
0
Falls
2
Win PCT.
90
Place
1st
Season
1957
School
Iowa
Class
Junior
Bouts
16
Wins
13
Losses
3
Ties
0
Falls
1
Win PCT.
81.25
Place
DNP
Season
1956
School
Iowa
Class
Sophomore
Bouts
13
Wins
11
Losses
2
Ties
0
Falls
1
Win PCT.
84.62
Place
3rd
Season
Career
Bouts
49
Wins
42
Losses
7
Ties
0
Falls
4
Win PCT.
85.71

All Coaching Dual Records:

Season
1995
School
Georgia State
Division
Division I
Duals
19
Wins
14
Losses
5
Ties
0
Win PCT.
73.68
Season
1993
School
Georgia State
Division
Division I
Duals
20
Wins
9
Losses
11
Ties
0
Win PCT.
45
Season
1992
School
Georgia State
Division
Division I
Duals
11
Wins
5
Losses
6
Ties
0
Win PCT.
45.45
Season
1976
School
Iowa
Division
Division I
Duals
15
Wins
14
Losses
1
Ties
0
Win PCT.
93.33
Season
1975
School
Iowa
Division
Division I
Duals
18
Wins
17
Losses
0
Ties
1
Win PCT.
94.44
Season
1974
School
Iowa
Division
Division I
Duals
14
Wins
10
Losses
2
Ties
2
Win PCT.
71.43
Season
1973
School
Iowa
Division
Division I
Duals
16
Wins
10
Losses
4
Ties
2
Win PCT.
62.5
Season
Career
Duals
113
Wins
79
Losses
29
Ties
5
Win PCT.
69.91

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