It’s the dawn of a new era for Iowa State wrestling. Well, at least the dawn of the Dan St. John era.

St. John is the new restricted-earnings coach of the Cyclone wrestling team, joining assistant coach Tom Ortiz and Head Coach Bobby Douglas. St. John came to ISU via Penn State, where he earned his master’s degree and served as a volunteer coach.

The Cyclones are sure to benefit from St. John’s experience and winning attitude.

“Academically, he’s a tremendous role model, and as a coach, he brings knowledge and intensity,” Douglas said.

“I bring international experience and technique,” St. John added. “This can also benefit me, with a stable training environment.”

St. John has also been checking out the academic part of ISU.

“Ames has been good to me. I’m exploring the mathematics department, and maybe I’ll become a grad student,” St. John said. “I like the wrestling and the environment.”

The Cleveland, Ohio, wrestled under Douglas at Arizona State and received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1990. While at ASU, St. John became one of the most decorated wrestlers in Sun Devil history — winning three Pac-10 individual championships, earning All-American status three times and winning two individual NCAA titles. He also holds the school record for career victories with 147.

Coaching for Douglas would seem to be a little different than wrestling under him, but not for St. John.

“I’m still a student. Nothing’s changed — he still yells at me,” St. John laughed.

But Douglas doesn’t view him as a college student, rather as an international wrestler.

“As far as coaching the kids, he’s been with the system awhile,” Douglas said, referring to ISU’s style of wrestling.

Ranked number five in the world in both Greco-Roman and freestyle at 180 pounds, St. John will not only be coaching, he’ll also be training for the Olympics.

“I’m in the position now to be the best and win an Olympic medal,” St. John said. “I’m like Luke, [Douglas] is like Yoda. I’ve come back to get the force of wrestling.”

With the Cyclones’ returning two All-Americans, Dwight Hinson at 126 pounds and Chris Bono at 150 pounds, and a team that finished 15th in the nation, St. John will be a breath of fresh wrestling air to this year’s squad.

“He’s a welcome and a great addition,” Douglas said.