Bill Zadick has been named as a member of the Class of 2020 to be inducted as a Distinguished Member into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be held at the 44th Annual Honors Weekend on June 5-6, 2020 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Zadick is very deserving of this honor and has been a champion at every level of our sport of wrestling as a competitor and coach. After winning four state titles (1988-91) in Great Falls, Montana, Zadick joined the Iowa Hawkeye program and wrestled for legendary coach Dan Gable. In 1995 Zadick placed fifth in the country and in 1996 he won an NCAA National title at 142 lbs. Zadick was a Big Ten champ at 142 lbs. in 1996. As a member of the Iowa Wrestling team, the Hawks won four NCAA championship team titles and five Big Ten titles
Zadick then pursued a successful career in International wrestling. He placed second at the U.S Olympic Team Trials in 2000 and 2008 and represented Team USA and medaled at the World Cup and Pan Ams several times. He represented Team USA at the 2001 World Freestyle Championships. Zadick reached the top of the wrestling world when he won a World title at 66 kg/145 lbs. at the 2006 World Freestyle Championships in Guangzhou, China.
Zadick then became a coach for Team USA in Colorado Springs at the Olympic Training Center. He has held the title of every coaching position in USA Wrestling including Developmental Coach, Residential Coach, and Assistant Coach. Following the 2016 Olympics, Zadick was named Head Coach of USA Wrestling for Men’s Freestyle. In his first year as head Coach, Zadick led Team USA to their first World Team Title since 1995.
I have known Bill since he came to Iowa in the fall of 1991 and I can honestly say that he is a great guy and very deserving. A very hard worker and one tough guy that leads by example. It is a source of pride to have a former Hawk coaching our USA Freestyle team. Bill Zadick now takes his place with the all-time greats in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Congratulations Bill Zadick.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
