Iowa State Hires Decorated Wrestler Alli St. John as First Women's Wrestling Coach

Two-time World Championships silver medalist to lead new Cyclone program

Apr. 17, 2026 at 12:11pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting the fragmented, geometric forms of a female wrestler in motion, using a palette of deep blues, greens, and reds to convey the dynamic energy of the sport.The hiring of decorated wrestler Alli St. John as Iowa State's first women's wrestling coach signals the program's ambition to build a nationally competitive team.Ames Today

Iowa State University has selected Alli St. John, a two-time World Wrestling Championships silver medalist, as the first head coach of the school's new women's wrestling program. The announcement was made by ISU Endowed Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard.

Why it matters

The addition of a women's wrestling program at Iowa State is part of a growing trend of colleges and universities adding the sport to provide more opportunities for female athletes. St. John's decorated career and coaching experience make her an ideal choice to build the Cyclones' new program from the ground up.

The details

St. John, who competed under her maiden name of Ragan during her wrestling career, won silver medals at the 2018 and 2022 World Wrestling Championships. She will be tasked with recruiting and developing Iowa State's first women's wrestling team, which will compete as part of the Cyclones' athletics department.

  • The announcement of St. John's hiring was made on April 17, 2026.
  • Iowa State's new women's wrestling program will begin competing in the 2026-27 academic year.

The players

Alli St. John

A two-time World Wrestling Championships silver medalist who has been selected as the first head coach of the Iowa State women's wrestling program.

Jamie Pollard

The ISU Endowed Director of Athletics who announced the hiring of Alli St. John as the Cyclones' first women's wrestling coach.

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What they’re saying

“Alli St. John is one of the United States' most-decorated women's wrestlers ever, and we are thrilled that she has agreed to lead the Iowa State women's wrestling program as we launch an exciting new era in Cyclone Athletics.”

— Jamie Pollard, ISU Endowed Director of Athletics

What’s next

The new Iowa State women's wrestling team will begin recruiting and building its roster ahead of the 2026-27 season, which will mark the program's inaugural year of competition.

The takeaway

The hiring of Alli St. John, a highly accomplished wrestler, signals Iowa State's commitment to establishing a successful women's wrestling program that can compete at the highest levels of collegiate competition.