Head Coach John Oostendorp

Oostendorp has served as the head wrestling coach at Coe the past five years. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa where he wrestled for legendary coach Dan Gable and graduated with a B.A. in sociology in 1993. At Iowa, Oostendorp was a four year starter at heavyweight, where he posted an overall record of 108-26 with 40 pins. He was a two time all-American and Big Ten Champion for the Hawkeye’s, placing fifth and third in the NCAA Championships.

Oostendorp also has considerable international experience. He was a member of the United States Greco Roman National Team from 1993-1998. His redshirt freshman year at Iowa, he won the Fila Jr. Greco Roman National Championship and represented the U.S. in the Fila World Championships placing fifth. In 1995 Oostendorp won the US World Team Trials and compete for the United States in the 1995 World Championships in the Czech Republic. He was the 1996 US Greco Roman National Champion and was the Olympic alternate at 100 kilograms after placing second in the final Olympic Trials.

Entering his fifth year as head coach Oostendorp is excited and optimistic about the upcoming season and the future of the program. The Kohawks have made strong and steady gains under Oostendorps leadership with conference finishes of 6th , 5th, 4th, and 3rd place last year where he was named Iowa Conference Coach of the Year. His teams have consistently been nationally ranked and have been picked to be part of the NWCA National Duals the past three years.

“Our success has come form the attitude of the athletes that we are bringing into the program combined with the work ethic and commitment of our assistant coaches. We have created a environment for success built on the idea of bringing in student athletes which have very high goals and more importantly are willing to make the commitment and sacrifices to attain them. Coe has a great deal to offer our student athletes, including an outstanding education and the opportunity to wrestle at a very high level.”

Oostendorp and his wife, Mary Kay, have a four-year old daughter, Maci, and a two-year old son, Jay.

Click here to email Coach Oostendorp

Assistant Coach Dustin Hinschberger

Coach Hinschberger enters his second season on the staff with the Kohawks. Hinschberger graduated with a degree in Fitness Management from Wartburg in 2006.

Hinschberger was a three-time Iowa Conference Champion and three-time NCAA National Champion for the Knights. Along the way, he finished seventh at the 2005 Midlands Tournament, fourth at the 2005 Omaha Open and won the 2004 UNI Open.

He compiled a career record of 140-17 and lost to only three NCAA Division III Wrestlers in his career.

Assistant Coach Marcus Kurtz

Coach Kurtz enters his eighth year with the Kohawks. A 1999 graduate of Coe, Kurtz was a three-year starter for the Kohawks. Kurtz was an Iowa Conference Champion and two-time national qualifier for the Kohawks. He was also a captain for two years.

Assistant Coach Eric Casey

Coach Casey enters his fifth year with the Kohawks. A 2002 graduate of Coe, Casey was a four-year starter for the Kohawks. Casey finished third in the state his senior year under Hall of Fame coach Tom Killberg. He was also a captain his senior year.

Assistant Coach Dustin Bliven

Coach Bliven enters his second season on the staff with the Kohawks. Bliven graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Wartburg in 2006, after earning his AA from Ellsworth Community College in 2003.

Bliven was an All-American at Ellsworth in 2003. He earned an Iowa Conference title in 2006 at Wartburg, where he also earned All-American honors.