Les Anderson

1984 Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee

March 13, 1938 – November 9, 2012

A champion competitor, coach, and leader, Les Anderson—best known as the assistant coach to Dr. Harold Nichols at Iowa State University—has left an enduring mark on the wrestling world.

Anderson is a native of Clarion, Iowa, where he spent his prep career under the tutelage of Hall of Famer Dale Brand. In high school, he lost and tied only once in 63 matches, earning one state title and a second-place finish. Despite battling polio, and against doctors’ advice to forgo college wrestling, Anderson and his parents chose a different path.

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

Anderson also competed internationally, finishing fifth at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1956 and serving as an alternate on the 1960 Olympic team. He compiled a 14-2 record in international competition.

Following his collegiate career, Anderson began coaching in 1960 at Blue Earth High School in Minnesota. Under his leadership, Blue Earth finished in the top 10 in Minnesota four consecutive years, placing third twice, and also finishing fourth and ninth.

After beginning his career at the high school level, he moved into collegiate coaching at Iowa State University. As assistant to Harold Nichols—and later Jim Gibbons—Anderson dedicated his life to building champions. Over 25 years at ISU (with a three-year break from 1974 to 1977 to serve as head coach at the University of Washington, where he led the Huskies to 17th, 18th, and 21st place NCAA finishes), 36 individual champions and 145 All-Americans wore Cyclone red and gold.

Anderson rejoined the ISU wrestling staff in 1977 and played an instrumental role in building the Cyclone dynasty, contributing to five national championships, six second-place finishes, and four third-place finishes.

He was also a pioneering leader in the sport. Anderson created and directed Iowa State’s summer wrestling camp program—a concept that spread nationally. He helped organize the first annual coaches’ convention and implemented computerized tournament pairings. He served in the National Wrestling Coaches Association, receiving its 25-year participation award. His involvement extended to USA Wrestling’s Board of Directors, the NCAA recruiting committee, and the British Amateur Wrestling Association.

Anderson is a member of the Helms Foundation Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame. He has been inducted into the Citizens Hall of Fame in California and the Iowa High School Wrestling Hall of Fame (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.