Jim Zalesky is the head wrestling coach for the Oregon State Beavers and a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Prior to joining the Beavers, he was the coach of the University of Iowa wrestling team from 1998-2006. At Iowa, he succeeded Dan Gable as head coach, under whom he was a three-time NCAA champion. He guided the Hawkeyes to NCAA team championships in 1998, 1999, and 2000.

Wrestling career

Jim was a four-time All-American at Iowa from 1981-84. He won the NCAA individual title in the 158 pound division in 1982, 1983, and 1984. He went undefeated his last two years, ending his college career with an 89 match winning streak. At the 1984 NCAA Championships he was named Most Outstanding Wrestler. Amateur Wrestling News named him "Wrestler of the Decade" for the 1980s.

He finished second in the 163 pound division at the U.S. Nationals competition in 1988.

Zalesky is a member of the United States Coaches Association, and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004.

Coaching career

Despite coaching the Hawkeyes to three NCAA team championships in nine years, with a runner-up finish as recently as 2004, Zalesky was fired as Iowa's head coach on March 30, 2006. Athletic Director Bob Bowlsby cited a decline in the program under Zalesky and the need for a change as the reasons.

OSU's prior head coach, Joe Wells, retired a few days later leaving the program on a high note ending with a 13-2-1 record for the 2005-06 season. Zalesky was announced as Oregon State's new head coach on April 14, 2006.