Steve Hamilton, a native of Emmetsburg, Iowa, was a two-time Iowa state high school champion, capturing the 126-pound title in 1985 and the 138-pound title in 1987. He helped Emmetsburg win the Iowa state team title in 1985.

Hamilton was a four-time All-American for Iowa State University, wrestling for Jim Gibbons. His 123 career wins ranks him in the Top 10 for the Cyclones and he was voted the school’s most valuable wrestler as a junior and senior.

He continued to wrestle after college with the Hawkeye Wrestling Club.

Hamilton became an assistant coach for Mark Manning at the University of Northern Iowa in 1997 and in 2000 joined Manning at the University of Nebraska for two years.

After coaching at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Hamilton became head coach at Perry High School in Perry, Iowa in 2007.

He left Perry in 2011 and moved to Georgia to continue his teaching and coaching career. Hamilton is teaching and coaching at Dalton High School in Dalton, Georgia.

He and his wife, Erin, have three daughters, Emma, Maggie and Avery, and a son, Billy.