Ex-Iowa State wrestler/coach Jim Gibbons to run for Congress

For those who think of politics as being one big wrestling match, Jim Gibbons may be the right man to send to Washington, DC.

Gibbons, a former wrestler and coach at Iowa State University, announced that he intends to compete in the 2010 Republican primary for the third Congressional district, representing Iowa. The seat is currently held by Leonard Boswell, a Democrat who intends to run for a seventh term next fall. Dave Funk, a retired pilot, has already announced his candidacy for the GOP primary.

Gibbons, 50, told the Des Moines Register Thursday that he is leaving his job at Wells Fargo Advisors to pursue a full-time campaign. "I think anything that you do successfully, you can't do that with one foot in and one foot out," he said.

In an interview with Radio Iowa news director O. Kay Henderson, Gibbons said, ”I’m a coach, Kay, and you know when a coach looks at things, you look at fundamentals,” Gibbons said.

“…I come from the outside. I’ve been a Republican. I’ve donated to candidates in the past who have inspired me, but this race basically comes down to somebody from the outside that said, ‘You know what? Hey, I think I can do a better job.’ I think I can step up and maybe use some of the lessons I’ve learned in the financial world and maybe through coaching.”

According to the Des Moines Register, Gibbons said he began thinking seriously about running when he got a call from an old friend, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, a two-time NCAA wrestling champion from the University of Wisconsin.

"He called me up in the middle of the summer and he asked, 'Jim have you ever considered running for Congress?' And I said, 'Every day.' "

Jim Gibbons wrestled for the Iowa State Cyclones in the early 1980s. He was a three-time NCAA Division I All-American (1980-1982) and 1981 NCAA champ at 134 pounds. In 1986, he took the head coaching job at ISU at age 26.  In his seven seasons at the helm, the Cyclones compiled a 96-32-1 record, and won the NCAA team title in 1987. He earned National Coach of the Year honors that year. More recently, he has served as a broadcaster on Iowa Public TV's College Wrestling series along with fellow ISU wrestling alum -- and former University of Iowa coach -- Dan Gable.

A number of former wrestlers have entered the political arena, including current Senators Al Franken of Minnesota, and John McCain of Arizona. Former Speakers of the House Dennis Hastert and Carl Albert were once wrestlers.

Resources

College Wrestling Examiner, October 1: Jim Jordan to be inducted into Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame

Des Moines Register: Gibbons to run for Boswell's seat

Radio Iowa: Ex-coach Gibbons now candidate Gibbons

Follow College Wrestling Examiner Mark Palmer on Twitter