By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – If you can’t beat them, apparently, you hire them.

That seems to be Iowa State’s approach to hiring wrestling coaches, the latest example being Drake Ayala hired this week as an assistant coach.

Ayala, who just finished competing for Iowa in March, is the latest former Hawkeye to join the Iowa State program, which is already filled with former Hawkeyes in leadership roles.

Former Hawkeye Brent Metcalf was named Iowa State’s head coach on April 16th after having served for nine seasons under former head coach, and former Hawkeye, Kevin Dresser, who has since transitioned into a new role within the Iowa State Athletics Department as Director of Men’s and Women’s Wrestling.

“I am incredibly excited to join the Iowa State staff as an assistant coach,” Ayala said in a release. “Coach Metcalf is building something special in Ames, and I’m honored to join the staff and contribute to that vision. I have a great deal of respect for the way this program carries itself on and off the mat, and its values and goals align closely with who I am and where I come from. I’m excited to give my all to help Cyclones chase World, Olympic, and NCAA titles.”

Ayala will now join former Hawkeye and Iowa City native Derek St. John as an assistant coach for the Cyclones, who recently ended more than two decades of misery against their instate rival, defeating Iowa, 20-14, on Nov. 30, 2025, in Ames, snapping a 20-match Iowa winning streak.

Before the 2025 loss, Iowa had not lost to the Cyclones since Dec. 5, 2004.

So it makes sense why Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard would want former Hawkeyes running his wrestling program.

Ayala, who is from Fort Dodge, was a four-time NCAA qualifier at Iowa, posting an 83-26 career record. He reached the national finals in 2024 and 2025, finishing as runner-up both years, before placing fifth in his final season. Of his 83 career victories, 52 came by bonus-point margin including 31 tech falls, 16 major decisions and five pins.

Metcalf won two NCAA titles (2008, 2010) as a Hawkeye and was a three-time NCAA finalist (2008-10) in his three seasons wrestling for the Hawkeyes.

The Michigan native won the 2008 Dan Hodge trophy, given annually to the nation’s best collegiate wrestler, and helped the Hawkeyes to three NCAA team titles (2008, 2009, 2010). Metcalf finished his college career with a 108-3 record, the second-best winning percentage in Iowa history (.973), a 69-match winning streak from 2008-09 and 47 career falls.

St. John won the 2013 NCAA title at 157 pounds, becoming the 18th four-time All-American in Iowa history in 2014. He placed fourth at the NCAA Championships as a freshman, second as a sophomore, first as a junior and fifth as a senior, claiming his spot as one of the most decorated Hawkeye wrestlers of all time.

He concluded his collegiate career with a record of 106-17. St. John was the 2012 Big Ten champion and a two-time Big Ten runner-up at 157 pounds. He posted a record of 31-2 in his national championship campaign of 2012-13, earning Iowa’s Mike Howard Most Valuable Wrestler Award.

Dresser, who is from Humboldt, was a two-time All-American and a two-time Big Ten champion as a Hawkeye. He won an NCAA title as a senior in 1986 and was also named Iowa’s Most Valuable Wrestler. He also placed fourth at the national meet in 1985. The Hawkeyes won national titles in each of his five seasons on the roster.

Iowa used to dominate collegiate wrestling the way Penn State does now, while Iowa State has been climbing back to respectability under Dresser, and with help from Metcalf and St. John.

Jamie Pollard might consider Iowa his bitter instate rival, and he seems to enjoy stoking the fire.

But he obviously doesn’t have a problem with hiring former Hawkeyes in his quest for success.

Hawkeye fans should be flattered that Iowa State’s coaching staff for wrestling is filled with former Hawkeyes, though most fans probably are annoyed by it.

Of course, it works both ways as Iowa hired former Cyclone and 1972 Olympic Gold Medalist Dan Gable as an assistant coach in the mid-1970s. Gable was then promote to head coach in 1976 and he would go on to lead Iowa to 15 NCAA titles and 21 Big Ten Championships.

Iowa’s current coaching staff for men’s wrestling consists solely of former Hawkeyes, with Tom Brands as head coach, his twin brother Terry Brands as one of the assistant coaches, along with Ryan Morningstar and the recently hired Jacob Warner.