Reggie Wicks

1998 Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee

March 1, 1945 – April 24, 2024

The wrestling career of Reggie Wicks began in Decorah, Iowa, under the direction of Coach Larry Poock. He progressed steadily through his freshman and sophomore years with moderate success, but in 1963, as a junior, he pulled it all together and finished with an 11-0-1 regular season record. As a senior in 1964, he went 11-0 with nine falls, capturing the Northeast Iowa Conference Championship at 154 pounds, a District Championship, and placing second at the Iowa State Wrestling Tournament.

Wicks continued his education and wrestling career at Iowa State University under the legendary Dr. Harold Nichols. At Iowa State, he developed into one of the top collegiate wrestlers in the country. He placed fourth, second, and third at the Big Eight Conference Tournaments in 1966, 1967, and 1968, respectively. In 1967, Wicks won the prestigious Midlands Championships and was runner-up the following year. His crowning achievement came in 1968 when he won the NCAA Division I National Championship at 160 pounds—an unforgettable moment for the Decorah native. That season he helped Iowa State secure the team national title.

Dr. Nichols once said of him, “I think of all the wrestlers I coached, Reg Wicks’ success gave me more satisfaction than any other wrestler. I don’t think I ever had a young man get more out of his talent through just plain hard work. I can’t say I would name anyone my personal favorite, but of all the wrestlers I coached, his national championship brought me the most personal satisfaction.”

Following college, Wicks began his coaching career as an assistant at Mankato State from 1969 to 1971. He then served as head coach at Wisconsin–Stevens Point from 1971 to 1974, before moving on to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he was an assistant coach from 1974 to 1987. Wicks took over as head coach at Navy in 1987, building a strong program with an overall collegiate head coaching record of 181-72-4. Under his guidance, Navy captured five Navy Classic Tournament titles and consistently battled among the top teams in the EIWA.

The annual dual meet with Army has always stood out for Navy wrestling. During Wicks’ tenure, Navy extended an impressive streak over Army that dated back decades. Although Army finally broke a 34-year Navy unbeaten run in 1997, the Midshipmen reclaimed bragging rights with a victory in 1998, aiming to start another long streak.

Wicks is remembered in wrestling circles for his intense work ethic, technical knowledge, and commitment to developing young men on and off the mat. His impact on collegiate wrestling—both as an NCAA champion and as a respected coach—continues to be felt.

Reggie was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1998 with Dan Mashek.