Terry Brands

2001 Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee

Terry Brands, a native of Sheldon, Iowa, launched his wrestling career at Sheldon High School under coach Galen Nelson, where he captured two state titles, finished as a runner-up once, and amassed a 110-10 record, including an undefeated 34-0 mark in 1986. At the University of Iowa, he wrestled under the legendary Dan Gable, becoming a two-time NCAA champion, three-time All-American, and three-time Big Ten champion at 126 pounds. Brands posted a remarkable collegiate record of 137-7, went undefeated at 35-0 his senior season in 1991-92, and still ranks among Iowa’s all-time leaders in career victories, pins, and winning percentage.

Internationally, Brands was one of the premier freestyle wrestlers of his era. He won World Championships in 1993 and 1995 at 125.5 pounds (57 kg), was part of U.S. World Team titles those same years, and alongside his twin brother Tom, became the first American brothers to win World titles in the same year. A two-time World Cup champion and 1995 Pan American Games gold medalist, he also earned three U.S. National titles and was a two-time silver medalist at the prestigious Yarygin tournament in Russia. Brands capped his international career by capturing a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. In recognition of his achievements, he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006.

Following his competitive days, Brands built an equally distinguished coaching career. Now in his 27th season on the University of Iowa staff and serving as associate head coach since 2011, Brands previously assisted the Hawkeyes from 1992-2000 and returned in 2008 after head coaching stops at Chattanooga and assistant roles at Nebraska and Montana State-Northern. He also spent three years as USA Wrestling’s National Freestyle Resident Coach, helping develop stars like Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo. Under his leadership alongside his brother Tom, Iowa has won three NCAA and five Big Ten team titles over the last 17 seasons, produced 11 NCAA champions, 99 All-Americans, 24 Big Ten champions, and 176 Academic All-Big Ten honorees. The Hawkeyes have compiled an extraordinary 245-22-1 dual record (.914) since his return, set program records for longest dual unbeaten (84) and winning streaks (69), and drew a national collegiate dual meet attendance record of 42,287 fans in the 2015 Grapple on the Gridiron. Brands continues to guide the Hawkeye Wrestling Club, and was named USA Wrestling’s Terry McCann Freestyle Coach of the Year in 2014.

A coach known for instilling relentless intensity and high standards, Brands says his philosophy is to “positively shape student-athletes’ morals, minds, and bodies by teaching our men to terrorize on the mat, yet be perfect gentlemen in society.”

Terry Brand was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2001 along with his twin brother Tom Brands.