Chuck Patten

1995 Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee

Chuck Patten, a native of Waterloo, Iowa, began his wrestling journey at East Waterloo High School under the guidance of respected coach Dave Natvig. Reflecting on his prep years with characteristic modesty, Patten once remarked, “I did not have a distinguished high school wrestling career. I was a four-year letterman and had a decent junior and senior effort, placed in the state tournament, etc. I was more a part of a tradition that East Waterloo had going at that time, surrounded by quality wrestlers and coach.” This early immersion in a strong wrestling culture laid the foundation for what would become a landmark coaching career.

Patten continued his athletic pursuits at Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa), wrestling under the legendary Bill Koll. Over three seasons, he compiled an impressive 28-5-2 dual meet record, including an undefeated 10-0-2 campaign as a junior, underscoring his technical skill and consistency on the mat. After graduating from ISTC in 1961, he earned his master’s degree from the University of Oregon the following year. He began his coaching career at Exeter High School in California, where he led the program to a state championship in only its second year of existence—an early sign of his exceptional leadership and coaching acumen.

In 1965, Patten returned to his alma mater to take over one of the most storied wrestling programs in NCAA history. Over 18 seasons at Northern Iowa, he guided the Panthers to unprecedented heights, recording 17 consecutive winning seasons and compiling a stellar 218-86-8 dual meet record. This made him the winningest coach in the rich 63-year history of UNI wrestling at the time. Under his direction, the Panthers produced an extraordinary 58 NCAA Division II All-Americans and 16 individual national champions. His teams captured NCAA Division II national titles in 1975 and 1978 and finished as national runners-up in 1970, 1972, 1974, and 1980. Remarkably, his squads secured top-three finishes at the NCAA Championships in 11 of his 18 seasons, a testament to the program’s sustained excellence during his tenure.

Patten’s coaching prowess was widely recognized. He was twice named NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year and received the Midwest Regional Coach of the Year award after leading UNI to the 1982 regional championship. Beyond the statistics and accolades, Patten was revered for building a culture of toughness, discipline, and camaraderie, leaving a lasting imprint on the lives of countless student-athletes and cementing his legacy as one of the giants of collegiate wrestling coaching.

Chuck was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1995 with Franc Freeman.