Bob Siddens

April 29, 1925 – September 27, 2018

Bob Siddens, a native of Eagle Grove, became one of the top wrestling coaches in the state during his 27 year career as mentor of the West Waterloo program.

Siddens’ wrestling foundation was built under Art Parsons, who later became Eagle Grove’s first entrant into the Iowa High school Wrestling Hall of Fame. Under Parsons, Siddens was a four-year state tournament qualifier and twice a state runner-up.

After high school, Siddens attended Iowa State Teachers College, now the University of Northern Iowa, in Cedar Falls, where he was a member of a team that won an NCAA championship.

Siddens returned to Eagle Grove after his collegiate career was completed and coached at his alma mater for a season before accepting the head wrestling coach position at West Waterloo in 1950.

Over the next 27 years, Siddens built a program that dominated Iowa prep wrestling. During that span, West Waterloo had a dual meet record of 327 wins, 26 losses and 3 ties. In that time, West established a state record of 88 consecutive dual meet wins over a period of seven years.

Siddens’ teams won 11 state titles, and from 1965 until 1972, his teams claimed six of eight state champion crowns. West Waterloo was also state runner-up seven times and finished third three times under Siddens.

Siddens coached 130 place winners at state, including 51 individual champions. Dan Gable, perhaps the best wrestler ever produced in the United States, was a pupil of Siddens.

He has also officiated high school and college wrestling, including 24 NCAA tournaments.

Siddens has received numerous honors, including being named the first Iowa Coach of the Year in 1970, and National High School Coach of the Year in 1977. He has been inducted into the Helms Hall of Fame (in 1969), the Iowa High School Wrestling Hall of Fame (1975), and the National Federation Hall of Fame (1980).

Bob Siddens was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1977.

High School

• Four year State qualifier, Runner-up twice

College

• Two-year letter winner on National Championship team

Coaching

Record327-26-3

High School:

• Eagle Grove High School
• West High School, Waterloo

Years Coaching: 27
Record:

• 11 State Champion teams
• 7 State Runner-ups