Troy Steiner - Wrestling Coach

Troy Steiner

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
tsteiner@csufresno.edu

THE STEINER FILE

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Twitter: @TroySteiner
Spouse: Shawn
Children: Spencer & Abbigail

EDUCATION
University of Iowa (1993)
Bachelor's in Social Work

COACHING HISTORY
Fresno State
2016-2021: Head Coach
Oregon State
2006-16: Assistant Coach
Iowa
2004-06: Assistant Coach
ADVANCE School of Wrestling
2001-04: Owner & Coach
Wisconsin Wrestling Federation
1997-2004: State Coach
Wisconsin
1997-2001: Assistant Coach
Minnesota
1996-97: Assistant Coach
Minnesota Storm
1996-97: Freestyle Coach
Oregon State
1995-96: Oregon State

WRESTLING EXPERIENCE
University of Iowa (1990-93)

Four-time All-American
1992 NCAA Champion (142 lbs.)
Helped lead the Hawkeyes to three NCAA team titles

Nine-time National Team Member (1992-2000)
1992 World Cup Champion
1996 Pan-American Games Freestyle Champion
Three-time U.S. Olympic Trials participant
North Dakota Sports Hall of Fame Inductee (1998)
Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee (2013)

The process of reinstating the men's wrestling program at Fresno State took a monumental step forward on May 10, 2016 as former Bulldog Director of Athletics Jim Bartko announced the hiring of Troy Steiner to become the head wrestling coach.

Steiner, who spent 10 years at Oregon State from 2006-16, including the last four in the role of associate head coach, was tasked with restoring the wrestling program at Fresno State and recapturing the passionate wrestling community in California's Central Valley.

"Today marks an exciting day for Fresno State and the wrestling community," Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro said. "The pride and support for Bulldogs wrestling is inspiring. In our Central Valley, which is well known as a wrestling hotbed, we're pleased to reintroduce the nation to Fresno State wrestling under new head coach Troy Steiner."

Finishing his fourth season at the helm of the Fresno State Wrestling program in 2020-21, Steiner helped send two 'Dogs to the NCAA Championships with DJ Lloren (141 lbs.) and Kyle Parco (149 lbs.) each qualifying.

Parco became the 23rd All-American in program history with a sixth-place finish at 149 pounds as the redshirt freshman went 19-4 on the season. Parco and Lloren each placed third at the Big 12 Championship to qualify for the NCAA Championships.

Fresno State finished ninth at the 2020 Big 12 Championships in Tulsa scoring 57 points with five 'Dogs earning top-six finishes. In dual action, the Bulldogs went 9-11 with a 4-4 mark in Big 12 action & 5-3 at home at the Save Mart Center.

The Bulldogs ranked in the top 10 in the nation in attendance for the third straight season in 2019-20 averaging 2,596 fans per dual.

At the 2019 NCAA Championships, Josh Hokit became the first All-American wrestler from Fresno State since 2003 finishing fifth at 197 lbs. and completed a 27-8 overall record. As a senior in 2019-20, Hokit tallied a 24-4 record at heavyweight, placed third at the Big 12 Championship and earned NWCA Second Team All-American honors.

The Bulldogs placed fifth at the 2019 Big 12 Championships scoring 59.5 points as six 'Dogs placed in the top six in their respective weight classes. Nevills led the way with a runner-up finish at heavyweight followed by Hokit taking fourth at 197 lbs. A trio of 'Dogs claimed fifth in Hemauer, Joint and Wright and Khrisitan Olivas (149 lbs.) rounded out the 'Dogs top finishers with a sixth place finish.

In dual meet action, Fresno State went 9-8 overall with a 4-4 mark in Big 12 action. Ranking in the top 10 nationally in attendance for the second straight season, the Bulldogs picked up four dual meet wins at the Save Mart Center with victories over California Baptist (Jan. 3), South Dakota State (Jan. 20), Oregon State (Jan. 31) and No. 11 Wyoming (Feb. 3).

In their first season back on the mat since 2005-06, Steiner led the Bulldogs to a 4-16 mark in dual meets with wins over San Francisco State, Cal Poly, Bucknell and Northern Colorado in 2017-18.

The ‘Dogs won their first dual at San Francisco State on Nov. 11, 2017 defeating SFSU, 35-12 winning the duals’ first eight matches with two falls and five major decisions.

The Bulldogs won their first meet over a Division I opponent, Cal Poly, 29-13 at the Save Mart Center on Jan. 4, 2018 winning seven matches as Hokit and Nevills closed out the dual with falls.

Fresno State also downed Bucknell, 27-8 at the Virginia Duals on Jan. 12 and won their first Big 12 dual at Northern Colorado on Jan. 26, 2018 with a 20-19 victory winning on the total team points criteria as the ‘Dogs outscored the Bears, 60-57.

Olivas and Nevills became the first two Bulldog wrestlers to qualify for the NCAA Championships competing in 2018 in Cleveland as Olivas went 1-2 and Nevills fell in two matches.

Nevills finished second and Hokit placed fifth at the Big 12 Championships while the ‘Dogs finished 11th as a team.

Steiner has reached the pinnacle of the sport as both a wrestler and as a coach. A four-time All-American at Iowa where he compiled a 148-13 record in the 134- and 142-pound weight classes, Steiner was a member of three Hawkeye national championship teams from 1991-93 and won the 1992 NCAA Division I National Championship in the 142-pound weight class.

His decorated athletic career is equally matched as a mentor that has seen him coach 22 All-Americans, 10 Big Ten Champions, seven Pac-12 Championship teams and six NCAA Division I Champions along with a Junior FILA World Freestyle Champion.

"I want to thank President Joseph Castro, former Director of Athletics Jim Bartko and former Associate AD John Kriebs for having the courage to reinstate the wrestling program here at Fresno State," Steiner said. "I am honored that they have put their trust in me to bring this back to the Valley and to the wrestling community.

"My family and I are extremely excited to become a part of the Red Wave community and looking forward to any challenges that may lie ahead."

Steiner, who in addition to his 10 years at Oregon State, has made coaching stops at Iowa (2004-06) and Wisconsin (1997-01) while his first collegiate stint was at Minnesota back in the mid-90s (1996-97). He also owned and operated "The ADVANCE School of Wrestling" in Madison, Wis., from 2001-04 and from 1997-2004 was the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation State Freestyle and Greco-Roman Coach.

"Today is truly a special day nationally for the sport of wrestling and here for the fans in the Valley who deeply love this sport," Bartko said. "Being able to find a head coach with the integrity, spirit and knowledge that Troy brings to Fresno State is invaluable not only for restarting the program, but also for bringing great student-athletes to campus to compete."

Steiner's most recent successes at Oregon State came working alongside Beavers head coach Jim Zalesky, a 2004 National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee who Steiner also coached with at Iowa from 2004-06. Steiner and Zalesky guided Oregon State to top 10 NCAA team finishes in 2012 and 2013 and the seven Pac-12 Championships, including five-straight from 2012-16.

As a member of USA Wrestling, he was a USA Women's World Team Coach in 2003, 2007 and 2015, and was the 2003 USA Junior World Team Coach in men's freestyle where he coached the U.S. Junior team in the World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.

Steiner, a native of Bismarck, N.D. and graduate of Bismarck Century High School, went on to star as a wrestler at Iowa alongside with his brother, Terry, who was a three-time All-American with the Hawkeyes (1991-93) and 1993 NCAA Division I National Champion (150-pound weight class). Both Steiner brothers were inducted into the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa on June 9, 2013.

In post-collegiate competition, Steiner was a nine-time U.S. National Team member, winning the 1992 World Cup and the 1996 Pan-American Games titles. He placed third at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1992 and 1996, and fifth in 2000.

He received his bachelor's degree in social work from Iowa in 1993 and his master's degree in kinesiology with a sports management emphasis from Minnesota in 1998.

He and his wife, Shawn, have two children, Spencer and Abbigail.