Zadick will serve as volunteer assistant coach. He spent 10 years on the University of Iowa staff, serving as Iowa's interim assistant coach for two seasons until 2012, a volunteer assistant coach for four seasons (2004-06, 2009-10) and the strength training coach for three seasons (2006-08). Zadick won the 2008 U.S. Freestyle Olympic Team Trials at 132 pounds (60 kg), and earned a spot in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
“Mike Zadick is a winner,†Dresser said. “He was a winner as an athlete and is a winner as a coach. He brings knowledge, toughness, and, he brings a genuine excitement and passion to be at Virginia Tech. He is double dangerous with his knowledge in the folk and freestyle arenas, our program just got much stronger.â€
During his tenure, Zadick has helped the Hawkeyes to three NCAA and Big Ten team titles. Since 2005, Iowa has crowned seven NCAA champions, 10 Big Ten champions, 43 All-Americans and 43 academic all-Big Ten honorees.
Zadick was a three-time All-American (2000-02) at Iowa, winning the 149-pound Big Ten title in 2002. He earned a spot on the 2010 World Team at 60kg/132 pounds and was the 2009 U.S. Senior Nationals freestyle champion at that weight. In 2007, he was the U.S. World Team Trials champion and won a silver medal at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. Zadick's other international accomplishments include a silver medal at the 2006 World Championships in Guangzhou, China, and runner-up finishes at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team trials and U.S. Nationals, and the 2005 World Team Trials challenge tournament.
A native of Great Falls, Montana, Zadick earned a bachelor's degree in sports studies from the University of Iowa in 2004.
St. John will serve as the volunteer Director of Wrestling Operations for the Hokies. He comes to Virginia Tech after one season as an assistant coach at North Dakota State. Last season, the Bison finished 9-4 overall and a perfect 5-0 in Western Wrestling Conference action. NDSU finished 23rd in the NCAA Championship.
St. John, the 2013 NCAA champion at 157 pounds, became the 18th four-time All-American in Iowa history in 2014. He placed fourth at the NCAA Championships as a freshman, second as a sophomore, first as a junior and fifth as a senior, claiming his spot as one of the most decorated Hawkeye wrestlers in history.
“We are very excited with the addition of Derek St. John to our staff,†Dresser said. “Derek has goals of being a head coach someday and this role will benefit him greatly. He will be involved in many new areas. Derek also wants to have the opportunity to compete in the near future so having a great place to train is important as well. The addition of Derek St. John at Virginia Tech will benefit all of us.â€
The Parnell, Iowa, native concluded his collegiate career with a record of 106-17. St. John was the 2012 Big Ten champion and a two-time Big Ten runner-up at 157 pounds. He posted a record of 31-2 in his national championship campaign of 2012-13, earning Iowa's Mike Howard Most Valuable Wrestler Award.
St. John was a redshirt on the Iowa team that won the NCAA team title in 2010. He graduated from Iowa in May 2014 with a degree in business studies.
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