Cecil Mott

November 15, 1921 – January 11, 2005

Cecil Mott dedicated over four decades of his life to the sport of wrestling, evolving from a standout competitor to a revered high school coach whose influence helped shape the landscape of Iowa wrestling. Born in Mason City, Iowa, Mott began his wrestling journey at Mason City High School, where he competed from 1938 to 1940 under coach Howard Barker. During his high school career, Mott compiled a solid 15–7–2 record, competing in the 95, 105, and 125-pound weight classes, demonstrating early promise in a sport that was just beginning to flourish in Iowa.

After high school, Mott continued his education and athletic pursuits at Mason City Junior College before transferring to Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa) in Cedar Falls, where he joined the wrestling program led by the legendary Coach Dave McCuskey. Mott’s collegiate wrestling career reached its peak in 1946, his final year of eligibility, when he captured the NCAA National Championship at 121 pounds, cementing his place among the nation’s top lightweights and ending his competitive career on a triumphant high note.

With his days on the mat behind him, Mott transitioned into coaching, where he would leave an enduring legacy. In 1946, he took over as head wrestling coach at Iowa Falls High School, where he led the program for 14 years. Under his leadership, the Iowa Falls program became a consistent competitor at the state level. In 1960, Mott returned to his alma mater, Mason City High School, to serve as head coach for another nine years, bringing his career total to 23 years of head coaching.

Throughout his coaching career, Mott’s teams compiled a dual meet record of 115–106–4. More impressively, he coached nine individual state champions, eight state runners-up, and had three teams finish in the top four at the Iowa state championships. Known for his disciplined, fundamentals-first coaching philosophy, Mott played a critical role in developing the wrestling culture in North Central Iowa and served as a mentor to countless student-athletes.

Mott retired from coaching in 1969 and later entered the private sector, officially retiring from his professional career in 1984. In recognition of his contributions to wrestling, he was inducted into the Iowa High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1973 and was enshrined in the University of Northern Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993.

Cecil was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1985 with Tom Peckham.

High School

CoachHoward Barker

Record15-7-2

College

CoachDave McCuskey

• 1946 121-pound NCAA D-I Champion
• One-time NCAA D-I All-American
• 1946 NCAA Team Runner-up

Coaching

Record115-106-4

Iowa Falls High School – Head Coach (1946-1960)

Mason City High School – Head Coach (1960-1969)

• 9 Individual State Champions
• 8 Individual State Runner-up’s
• 3 Top 4 State Team Finishes