Dick Black

2005 Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee

September 22, 1922 – March 6, 2010

Dick Black of Fort Dodge was a true pioneer in wrestling—so influential that Minnesota’s statewide tournament structure bears his imprint today. Competing during a time when wrestling mats were surrounded by ropes like a boxing ring, Black helped usher in modern competition formats. Over a remarkable 36-year coaching career, he took pride in the fact that 30 of his wrestlers went on to coach, a testament to his enduring influence on the sport.

Black switched his athletic focus from basketball to wrestling after his freshman year at Fort Dodge High School. As a sophomore, he went undefeated in dual meets (4–0), including a notable 5–3 victory over a defending state champion. He repeated his undefeated run (8–0) in his junior season before an unexpected loss at districts. As a senior at 135 pounds, Black posted another perfect regular season (8–0), with six pins en route to district and state titles—and ended his high school career with an impressive 23 falls in 25 matches.

After two years of work and four years of military service, Black attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, competing at 145 and 155 pounds. There, he practiced alongside seven future national champions from 1946 to 1949, sharpening his skills in one of the region’s most elite wrestling environments.

Black moved into coaching with stints at Britt (four years) and Carroll (two years) before accepting a position at Owatonna High School in Minnesota. He remained there for the next 30 years, compiling an extraordinary 281–116–4 team dual-meet record. His squads won 11 district titles, six regional championships, and two Big Nine Conference crowns. Four of his teams finished among Minnesota’s top five, including a memorable state championship in 1962. He coached six individual state champions, mentored 48 regional champions and 70 district champions, and retired in 1985 with a total of 341 team victories.

Black’s pioneering efforts earned him numerous accolades, including Minnesota’s Coach of the Year in 1985. In recognition of his lifetime of service, Governor Rudy Perpich declared May 4, 1985, “Coach Dick Black Day.” He was inducted into multiple halls of fame, including the Dave Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame, Fort Dodge Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the Owatonna High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Black attributed his success to being a “hard-nosed disciplinarian” with an uncompromising focus on fundamental technique—values he instilled deeply in generations of wrestlers. His influence reshaped wrestling in Minnesota and his philosophy continues to resonate wherever the sport is practiced.

Dick Black was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005 alongside Bob Steenlage, Royce Alger, and Mike McCready.