Les Anderson

March 13, 1938 – November 9, 2012

A champion competitor, coach, and leader Les Anderson, who is best known as the assistant coach to Dr. Harold Nichols at Iowa State University, has made his mark on the wrestling world.

Anderson is a native of Clarion where he spent his prep career under the tutelage of Hall of Famer Dale Brand. While in high school, he was beat and tied just once in 63 matches, earning one state title and a second-place finish. Battling polio, the doctors advised him not to continue wrestling in college. However, Anderson and his parents chose a different path.

Determined to beat the odds, he began a 21-year-long association with Nichols when he began wrestling for Iowa State. As a Cyclone, he was a three time All-American, won two NCAA championships (1958 and 1960 – in two undefeated seasons) was runner-up in 1959, and was twice a Big Eight Conference champion. He holds the distinction of being the first national champion crowned during Nichols’ ISU coaching career.

He also wrestled at the international level, finishing fifth at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1956 before being an alternate on the 1960 Olympic team. He had a record of 14 wins against just two losses in international competition.

Following his collegiate career, Anderson started coaching in 1960 at Blue Earth (Minnesota) High School. Under him, Blue Earth finished in the top 10 in Minnesota four years running, taking third place twice besides finishing fourth and ninth.

After beginning his coaching career at the high school level, he moved into the collegiate ranks at Iowa State University. As the assistant to Harold Nichols and later Jim Gibbons, Anderson dedicated his life to the building of champions. In his 25 total years at ISU, (Anderson was the head wrestling coach at the University of Washington from 1974-77 guiding the Huskies to 17th, 18th and 21st place finishes in the NCAA Tournament), 36 individual champions and 145 All-Americans wore the Cyclone red and gold.

Anderson rejoined the ISU wrestling staff in 1977, He has played an instrumental part in building the Cyclone program, helping them to five national championships, six second place finishes and four third place finishes.

Anderson was also a cutting-edge leader in the sport. He created and directed Iowa State’s summer camp program, a concept that spread nationally. He was instrumental in organizing the first annual coaches’ convention and in implementing computerized tournament pairings. He served in the National Wrestling Coaches Association and received the 25-year participation award. He has served on the Board of Directors of USA Wrestling, on an NCAA committee on recruiting, and in the British Amateur Wrestling Association. He is a member of the Helm’s Foundation Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame. Anderson has been inducted into the Citizens Hall of Fame in California and was inducted into the Iowa High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1985.

For his inspiration as a competitor, excellence as a coach and visionary leadership, Leslie A. Anderson is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Les was inducted in the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1984 along with Mike Natvig.

High School

Record61-1-1

• Finished first and second at State

College

Record500-3-1

• 2-time Big Eight Conference Champion

Coaching

Record25-16

High School:

• Blue Earth (MN) High School

Record:

• 25-16 dual meets
• third at State twice

College:

• Assistant coach, Iowa State University 1964-1974 and 1977 to present
• University of Washington 1974-1977