Alex Kanellis has been named as the new Iowa Wrestling Strength coach. Kanellis was a state champion wrestler (215 lbs. In 2004) at Iowa City West High School and went on to play football at the University of Iowa. Kanellis had a very promising football career at defensive end cut short due to injuries in 2007.
Iowa Head Wrestling Coach Tom Brands:
We had a lot of people apply and we interviewed three. We really like the focus that Alex Kanellis has about wrestling. It takes a different person to be a strength coach to work with wrestlers specifically. I think that he is very interested in revolutionizing that.
He wants to be in our wrestling program. He wants to be observing our guys in a wrestling environment and then put that together with his plan to make them the best conditioned and strongest wrestlers on the mat.
Kanellis is replacing Travis Rutt who has been the Iowa Wrestling Strength coach for the last three years. I believe Coach Rutt did a real good job for Iowa Wrestling as we saw the Iowa wrestlers develop physically over the last three years. I am also confident that Kanellis will do a great job. The background of being a state champion wrestler and growing up in Iowa City has to be a benefit. Kanellis has been the Strength and wrestling coach at Iowa City Regina. I have seen the results of the work that Kanellis does for Regina football and wrestling and it is impressive.
The University of Iowa is one of the few colleges in the country that has a certified Strength coach just for the wrestling program. I believe this is a boost in recruiting and a noticeable advantage in competition.
Great hire Iowa Wrestling.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
