AMES, Iowa – According to a report from the Des Moines Register, Montana native and Iowa State assistant wrestling coach has been dismissed from the program. Zadick has spent three years on the staff of head coach Kevin Dresser, two at Virginia Tech and 2017-18 with the Cyclones.
Iowa State announced Zadick’s dismissal late Thursday.
“I’ve decided to go in a different direction with our coaching staff as we continue to re-build the Iowa State program,” Dresser said in a release. “There isn’t a better guy to teach wrestling technique than Mike, but we had some significant differences of opinion and it is best that we part ways. Mike was given the opportunity to run our practice room and have substantial input on all elements of the program. At the end of the day, however, I’m the leader of this program and our staff has to be aligned and unified.”
The Cyclones went 8-10 in duals last year and qualified one wrestler, Belgrade native Jarrett Degen, for the NCAA tournament. According to the Open Mat, the Cyclones had secured the 10th-ranked 2018 recruiting class in the nation.
Zadick was a decorated competitor before becoming a coach. He was a four-time state champion at Great Falls High. He went on to become a three-time All-American at Iowa from 2000-02, winning a Big Ten individual title at 149 pounds as a senior.
He finished runner up at the 2006 World Freestyle Championships in China and the 2007 Pan-American Championships. He also competed in Beijing at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Zadick’s brother Bill is currently the Team USA senior men’s freestyle coach.
