Joe Frank

2003 Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee

Joe Frank, a native of Cresco, Iowa, has firmly established himself as one of the most accomplished and respected high school wrestling coaches in the nation. Often described as “the gauge by which coaches are judged,” Frank consistently developed teams that were exceptionally balanced and competitive from top to bottom. Over his career, he guided six different squads to state team championships and left an enduring legacy that continues to influence high school wrestling programs across the country.

Joe’s own wrestling career laid a strong foundation for his success on the sidelines. At Cresco High School—an institution with a storied wrestling tradition—he captured the Iowa state title at 127 pounds as a senior. He went on to wrestle at Iowa State University under Hall of Fame coach Harold Nichols, where he distinguished himself as team captain of the Cyclones’ 1964 NCAA championship squad and was named the team’s Most Valuable Wrestler that same year.

Immediately after graduating from Iowa State, Joe launched his coaching career at Reedsport High School in Oregon. In just three seasons (1965–1967), he engineered one of the most impressive early coaching runs in prep wrestling history. His teams captured three consecutive Oregon state team titles, secured multiple conference and district championships, and produced eight individual state champions. During his tenure at Reedsport, his teams compiled a strong 31-8-1 dual meet record and won six invitational tournaments. His remarkable impact earned him Oregon 2A Coach of the Year honors twice.

Joe then continued his coaching success at Fridley High School in Minnesota, where he led the program for 17 years. At Fridley, his teams amassed three state team championships, ten conference titles, and ten district crowns, building a formidable dual meet record of 227-31-1. Under Frank’s leadership, Fridley wrestling produced 99 state qualifiers, five individual state champions, and secured 31 invitational team titles. He was twice named Minnesota Coach of the Year before retiring from coaching in 1985.

Frank attributed much of his sustained success to the high expectations he established both on and off the mat. “My passion for wrestling and exercise was well served at both schools,” he reflected. “Spending non-school time with the wrestlers allowed me to get in their heads. We biked, ran, lifted weights, canoed, picnicked, and traveled in the off-season. Wrestling became a high priority.” This holistic approach fostered not only athletic excellence but also deep bonds and trust, helping shape young men far beyond their competitive years.

He also credited his upbringing in northeast Iowa for shaping his coaching perspective. “For a teacher and wrestling coach, there is no better place to grow up than Cresco, Iowa,” Joe noted. “I had instant credibility once people knew I was from Cresco. Cresco has a national reputation as the home of former wrestling greats.”

In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the sport, Joe Frank was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003, joining two of his nephews—Jim and Joe Gibbons—at the induction ceremony. Together, they represent a family deeply woven into the fabric of wrestling tradition not only in Iowa but across the country.