Coaches Corner: Jim Zalesky

Jim Zalesky is in his sixth season as the head coach of Oregon State wrestling. He has won 73 dual meets at Oregon State University, good for third in program history. He has 200 dual wins for his career, including three national championships as the head coach at the University of Iowa. Zalesky also won three national championships in the 158-pound weight class as a student-athlete at Iowa, and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004.

Zalesky recently sat down with The Daily Barometer's Andrew Kilstrom, who asked what Zalesky possibly has left to accomplish and whether or not he would beat current Beaver heavyweight Clayton Jack.

Q: When did you first start wrestling?

A: I started in the seventh grade. I grew up playing basketball and football, but when my brother got into wrestling I got into it as well.

Q: It's not usually the first sport kids choose, but did it click right away for you?

A: Yeah, it clicked right away for me. I just like the one-on-one competitiveness. It was one of those sports where it's either going to click or not at all, and it did for me right away.

Q: Obviously you had incredible success at Iowa, winning three national championships. What do you remember about that time being a student-athlete?

A: I just remember being on a team with a lot of guys that had the same goals as me of being national champions. That was the expectation, and if you made the team you were expected to compete for a national title.

Q: Winning an individual national championship has to be the ultimate thrill. What's it feel like to be the best at your sport?

A: It's one of those things that you dream about and you're always thinking about. The accomplishment and feeling of achieving it is unbelievable. It's a natural high that you just can't get anywhere else.

Q: How does winning an individual championship compare to winning one as a coach?

A: I think it's the same. Both were unique experiences of equal gratification for me.

Q: Do you prefer coaching or competing?

A: I like coaching and competing, but what I like about coaching is helping other guys reach their goals. I get just as much satisfaction out of seeing other guys train hard, work hard and win than I did accomplishing those things myself. Probably even more so than when I was competing, actually.

Q: What kind of an honor was it to be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame?

A: It was a great honor. You know, I grew up reading about all of the guys in that hall of fame. I love history, especially wrestling history, and you want to be a part of the history of your sport, so being inducted into that group was a big honor for me.

Q: I read that you were named the Wrestler of the Decade for the '80s. How gratifying was that?

A: Yeah, a while back ‘Amateur Wrestling' named me the Wrestler of the Decade, which was a great honor. It meant quite a bit because you look at the '80s and there were some great, great wrestlers. To be even mentioned as one of the best is truly thrilling.

Q: I imagine you had numerous offers after leaving Iowa and winning three national championships there. Why did you choose OSU?

I felt it was a great fit for me. I like the environment and the school's sense of community and hardworking aspects. We're kind of a blue-collar school, and I enjoy all of the things associated with this school. I like the working degrees that you can get, like agriculture. I just like everything about the school. The athletic department and the people are ultimately what make it great for me.

Q: Is it similar to Iowa in that way?

A: You know I think it's a little different. I think it's better for me personally. I think it's a better fit for me.

Q: What about the weather?

A: It's way better (laughs).

Q: You prefer the rain to the snow then?

A: I prefer the rain to the snow, and the humidity in the summers is brutal in Iowa.

Q: In your six years here, you've had some outstanding wrestlers. Do any stand out in particular?

A: I like the guys on the team this year. There have been some great ones over my six years but I'm really excited about the guys now. Guys like Clayton Jack, Michael Mangrum, R.J. Pena, (Scott) Sakaguchi. They have some goals and I think they can achieve them. Seeing those guys start as freshmen and progress to the wrestlers they are now is great for me.

Q: You've accomplished pretty much every individual accolade the sport has to offer. What else is there left for you to do in wrestling?

A: I think there's always more to accomplish. It's not about me at this point; it's about this team and the kids we have. I want to see kids continue to grow and win national titles, but more importantly, grow as human beings. Seeing them win championships and succeed later in life is what it's all about.

Q: How would you fare today in college wrestling?

A: I think I'd fare pretty well. I'd have to adjust to some of the new techniques, but I think I would do fine.

Q: I know Clayton Jack is a heavyweight, but do you think you could take him in your prime?

A: [Laughs] Oh, it wouldn't even be a match.

Q: He'd win?

A: No I'd win, no question. Make sure you print that, too. (Laughs)

Andrew Kilstrom, sports writer

sports@dailybarometer.com