As if his college resume was not already untouchable: A career record of 118-1, a three-time All-American, a three-time Big Eight champion, a two-time national champion, two national team championships.

But it was not enough for Dan Gable. When he left Iowa State, he decided he needed to add to his resume. So he won an Olympic gold medal, a Pan American Games title and a World Championship.

It still wasn’t enough. And once again, he added to his resume. Staying away from ISU, Gable wound up coaching at the University of Iowa. As a coach, his teams have won 14 NCAA Championships (nine of them consecutively), 22 straight Big 10 titles and has coached two U.S. Olympic teams.

Gable has returned to ISU numerous times over the past two decades, but because of his black-and-gold ties, he has not been a popular figure in the Ames community.

That is until last Friday, when Gable was inducted as a charter member of the Iowa State Athletic Hall of Fame.

Gable said he was happy to be warmly greeted by ISU fans. “I’ve always felt close to Iowa State,” he said. “It’s tough to be at one place and then the other.”

He said he wanted to continue his career by coaching at ISU, but the opportunity did not exist.

He decided to settle in Iowa City because he thought it was the next best place. And ISU has regretted it ever since.

Gable reflects upon his ISU career fondly.

Gable was inducted into the Hall of Fame along with his coach while at ISU, Harold Nichols. Gable said he was honored to be inducted at the same time as the legendary coach.

“It is a big honor. He was Iowa State wrestling for years and years. He is Iowa State wrestling,” Gable said.

Gable said he was fortunate to have such an accomplished coach. “I am one of his pupils. I’m lucky. I was perfect for his system,” he said.

He said that much of his coaching style comes from Nichols.

And when it comes time for people to remember him, Gable said he would rather be remembered as the greatest coach of all time than the greatest wrestler of all time. “Coaching has overtaken my athletic skills,” Gable said.

He said he enjoys winning in coaching because he has less control over the outcome.

Gable said when he wrestled competitively, he simply knew he was going to win.

He said being a role model and figurehead of wrestling is “great for the sport.”

Gable said he is mostly remembered for two very different events during his career.

One is winning the 1972 Olympic gold medal without surrendering a point throughout his six matches.

The other is one memory Gable would rather forget. It is the final match of his collegiate career, and his only loss.

After falling in that match, he lost his chance to finish as a three-time National Champion and placed second.

Gable said his success at all levels comes from his determination. “I can’t take a loss. I don’t want it to happen,” he said.

Gable recently announced he would take a one-year leave-of-absence from coaching to help recover from a recent surgery and to be able to spend more time with his wife and daughters.

“It’s the right thing for me, I have all girls,” Gable said.

Gable has not officially announced his retirement, but said being away from coaching will help cut back on his stress and effort levels. “They start tearing you up,” Gable said of his team’s losses.

After his latest surgery, a hip replacement, his surgery total now reaches into the high teens, he said.

“My hip is the best joint on me. And you can quote me on that.”