Franc Freeman

1995 Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee

July 30, 1938 – September 17, 2019

Franc Freeman graduated from Davenport High School (now Davenport Central) in 1956, where he was a four-year member of the wrestling program. As a senior, he finished second at the Iowa State Wrestling Tournament and helped lead Davenport to the team state title.

After high school, Freeman served in the U.S. Navy, where he continued his wrestling career for two years and placed fourth at the National AAU Championships. Following his military service, he enrolled at Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa), competing under Hall of Fame coach Bill Koll. There, Freeman became a two-time NCAA Division I All-American, placing fourth at nationals as a junior and finishing as the national runner-up his senior year.

Freeman’s greatest legacy in Iowa wrestling came through his remarkable coaching career. He began at Billings West High School in Montana, where he served as head coach for two years, before returning to Iowa to take over at Bettendorf High School. Over 27 seasons at Bettendorf, Freeman built one of the state’s most respected programs, compiling a superb dual meet record of 250-72-7, a winning percentage of 78%. Under his leadership, Bettendorf produced 131 state qualifiers, 68 state place-winners, and 8 individual state champions. His teams won 16 conference championships and captured 10 district titles, consistently ranking among Iowa’s best.

Freeman’s coaching philosophy was deeply rooted in the values of the wrestling era in which he competed: toughness, relentless work ethic, and mental grit were non-negotiable. Yet he also emphasized that winning required more than just toughness; it demanded advanced technique, disciplined weight training, and the drive to excel. Over 29 years as a head coach, Freeman’s impact extended far beyond wins and championships, shaping generations of young athletes with the same passion and integrity that defined his own career.

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