AMES – In the sport of wrestling, discipline meets determination. For Iowa State head coach Kevin Dresser, this isn’t just a saying — it’s a lifestyle he’s lived for decades. 

From dominating on the mat in the mid-1980s to coaching the future of the sport, Dresser has cemented himself as an icon in the sport. 

In his early years, Dresser—a Fort Dodge, Iowa, native—attended Humboldt High School in Humboldt, Iowa. He boasted a 112-11-1 record wrestling for the Wildcats in the 142 weight class. 

Dresser was also a two-time state champion and four-time place winner. He also broke the school’s record for takedowns and pins. 

“The biggest asset you have is confidence,” Dresser said. “Guys are always coached up, and you have to figure out a way to separate yourself.” 

After wrestling in high school, Dresser attended the University of Iowa, wrestling under hall-of-fame head coach Dan Gable. Under Gable, Dresser recorded two All-American seasons in 1985-86 and a national championship in 1985 at 142 pounds. 

“There are a lot of good coaches out there,” Dresser said. “We were always coached up and ready to go when put in certain positions.” 

Thanks to that confidence, Dresser was awarded the Mike Howard Award as the most valuable wrestler for the Hawkeyes following the 1986 season. 

“You’ve got to be able to keep an even stream and have some composure,” Dresser said. “If you can, you’ll do well in the sport.”

Before landing in Ames, he adopted several head coaching jobs at the high school and collegiate levels. After exiting the spotlight as a wrestler at Iowa, he spent several years as an assistant coach under Gable before landing a head coaching job at Grundy High School in Virginia. 

In his time at Grundy, Dresser led the program to eight consecutive Virginia state titles, an accomplishment that would eventually lead him to succeed former head coach Tom Brands at Virginia Tech. 

Compared to his time coaching at the high school level, the exposure at the Division I level was much different. 

“I think the media really enhanced it,” Dresser said. “They brought more storylines to the fans. There’s a lot more knowledge, personalities and exposure that the sport hadn’t seen before.”

Dresser coached 11 seasons at Virginia Tech with a record of 160-51. He won back-to-back ACC championships in 2012-13 and 2013-14 while also being named the NWCA Coach of the Year in 2016. 

After former Iowa State head coach Kevin Jackson departed the program, the door was open for Dresser to make a move. 

Upon his arrival in 2017, Dresser immediately got to work. The Cyclones went 8-10 in his first season to finish seventh in the conference. Since that season, the team has yet to qualify less than eight competitors for the national tournament or finish below third in the conference. 

“He’s a businessman,” 174-pound sophomore MJ Gaitan said. “He’s always asking me how I’m doing and planning things out. It’s always business as usual.”

Soon after he took over, the sport began to blossom. Attendance spiked, arenas began to sell out and the role of a typical head coach began to evolve. 

Outside of Ames, Dresser and the Cyclones began to see a spike in local attendance. Earlier this season, in a dual against Northern Iowa, Iowa State was met with the first sold-out crowd in the history of the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls. 

“The sport has always been well attended,” Dresser said. “It’s a tougher ticket nowadays as everything continues to enhance the sport, but it’s always been well attended.”

While they lost the dual, the growth of the sport was apparent. 

“That’s common on the road nowadays,” Dresser said at the conclusion of the dual. “If you don’t love the sold-out crowds and everybody cheering against you, you’re going to have a hard time. You’ve got to embrace it.”

From the outside looking in, Dresser is just a coach. To his athletes, he’s more than that. For wrestlers like Gaitan, his influence was the entire reason behind the choice to wrestle for Iowa State. 

“Without him, I would have never thought to come here,” Gaitan said. “It was a tough decision that I put in my faith, but I’m glad I made it.”

Because of Dresser’s mentality, several young Cyclone wrestlers have been given the opportunity to compete. In the midst of an injury-riddled season, things look vastly different than the initial expectation in November. 

“People underestimate the impact he has,” Gaitan said. “When I’m competing, his voice comes from everywhere.”

Similar to Gaitan, other Iowa State wrestlers have found success under Dresser. At the start of the season, freshman Daniel Herrera was the second man in line under senior All-American Yonger Bastida. 

Thanks to Dresser’s “next man up” mentality, Herrera took over after Bastida fell to injury earlier in the season.

“Wrestling in my first season under coach Dresser has been hectic,” Herrera said. “This wasn’t a position that I envisioned myself in when the season started in November, but I’m glad that I have the opportunity to be here.”

Similar to Herrera, sophomore Cody Chittum adopted a similar role, burning his redshirt in what was expected to be a season of development. Following an injury to senior All-American Anthony Echemendia, Chittum found himself leading the charge at 157 pounds.

Adopting the new role, Chittum found himself doing more than just wrestling.

“[Chittum] keeps the locker room organized,” Dresser said. “We’re proud of how far he’s come this season, and he continues to improve every day.”

The 2024-25 season came to an end Saturday at the conclusion of the NCAA Tournament. To Dresser, the timing of the postseason and the current state of his athletes could not be better.

“I like the state of our team,” Dresser said. “We’ve got eight really excited guys who are ready to compete, and it’s time to go. Whatever happens, happens.”