Dick Briggs
Dick became Jefferson Cedar Rapids' sixth coach in 1983. Dick served as the head coach from 1983-2016. He was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, attending Cleveland and Roosevelt before becoming a J-Hawk in 1971. He wrestled behind highly successful Gary Bentrim for his sophomore and junior year. As a senior, he slid into the lineup at 138lbs and secured a fourth place finish at the State Tournament.
There was no question where Dick would go to school. His brother Don was an assistant coach under Chuck Patten at the University of Northern Iowa. Dick was in the varsity lineup as a freshman at 158lbs. He helped his teammates to a nation title in his rookie season, and often times weighed in with all of his clothes on.
During his junior year, Dick wrestled at 150lbs and worked his way to a fourth place finish in the Division II National Tournament. As a senior, he earned a third place finish at the same weight.
Dick earned his BA degree in Industrial Arts and Technology Education and Physical Education, graduating in 1978. He moved to Colorado and began to work on his graduate degree and serving as an assistant coach at the Western State Collage of Colorado. He moved on to coach at Washington High School in Cedar Rapids for a three year stint. In 1983 Tim Fowler stepped down and Dick moved back to the west side of town.
In his 33 years as head coach at Jefferson, Dick won 7 MVC titles and 10 State team trophies 1-3 and has accumulated a 272-164-2 record. At Jefferson, he coached 150 state qualifiers, 57 state medal winners and 10 state champions. During one six year term, his team finished in the top seven each year. In 1990 his team was edged out by one point by Dowling. They had seven place winners that year and two champions.
Dick and his wife Susan have a son, Kyle and a daughter, Lauren. He has an intense love for skydiving and flying. Boston Terriers, the Cubs, mushrooming and attending the NCAA Division I National Wrestling Tournament.
Awards:
Year
2020
|
Award
Lifetime Service to Wrestling
|
Chapter/Region
Iowa
|
All American Awards:
Season
1978
|
School
Northern Iowa
|
Tournament
Division II
|
Weight
150
|
Place
3
|
Season
1977
|
School
Northern Iowa
|
Tournament
Division II
|
Weight
150
|
Place
4
|