Alli St. John Named Iowa State Women's Wrestling Coach
Alli and Derek St. John have accepted new leadership roles within the Iowa State wrestling programs.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Wrestling
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Alli St. John has been appointed head coach of the newly forming Iowa State women's wrestling program. Concurrently, Derek St. John has been named associate head coach for the university's men's wrestling team.
Why it matters
The appointments allow the St. Johns to remain in Ames to raise their family while building their coaching careers at the university. The move marks a significant step for the school as it prepares to launch competitive women's wrestling.
Alli St. John has already recruited 17 athletes for the 2026-27 season. The Iowa State men's wrestling team previously finished 4th at the 2024 NCAA Championships.
The players
Alli St. John
A two-time collegiate national champion at King University who now leads the Iowa State women's wrestling program.
Derek St. John
A former NCAA champion and four-time All-American who serves as the associate head coach for the Iowa State men's wrestling team.
Iowa State University
A major public research university in Ames that maintains high-profile men's and women's athletic programs.
The details
Alli St. John transitioned to the head coach position after previously serving as director of donor relations for the Cyclone Regional Training Center. Derek St. John, a former NCAA champion and four-time All-American, moved into his new associate role after years as an assistant for the men's program.
Timeline
Derek St. John began coaching at Iowa State in 2016.
The Iowa State men's wrestling team placed fourth at the 2024 NCAA Championships.
The women's wrestling roster will compete starting in the 2026-27 season.
The Iowa State women's program is scheduled to officially compete in the 2027-28 season.
Season Trajectory
The hiring of the St. Johns marks a strategic effort to stabilize the wrestling staff in Ames for the long term. This leadership stability is intended to maintain the competitive trajectory established by the men's team's recent fourth-place NCAA finish.
The addition of 17 recruits for the 2026-27 season indicates an immediate expansion of the wrestling athlete population on campus. This influx will eventually shift the competitive balance for the university's sports offerings upon the start of the 2027-28 competition season.
The takeaway
These coaching appointments provide long-term continuity for the Iowa State wrestling programs as they balance new program development with established athletic success. Investing in experienced former collegiate champions as coaches remains a proven strategy for recruiting top-tier talent.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in collegiate competition on the Wrestling page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Des Moines Register.
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