Fresno State Athletics
Steiner introduced as head wrestling coach
5/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | General
May 12, 2016
Photo Gallery courtesy of Keith Kountz
What they are saying about Troy Steiner
By Josh Mitchell
jomitchell@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - Troy Steiner was formally introduced as the sixth head coach in Fresno State wrestling history at a press conference held Thursday inside the Save Mart Center.
Steiner's hiring came a few years after the initial questions of reinstating wrestling at Fresno State began with President Joseph I. Castro. Then on March 1, 2016, it was officially announced that wrestling would be brought back after it was dropped in 2006.
"I think I speak for the whole wrestling community throughout this country, this is such a great thing for the sport," Steiner said at his introductory press conference.
"It's going to be a heck of a challenge, but that's what I look forward to. I know it's going to be a lot of work. I'm not afraid of work. That's what intrigued me about this position the most. I get to put my stamp on the entire thing. I know there will be struggles, but that's life, and we'll fight through them."
Wrestling at Fresno State dates back to 1962 when it competed as an NCAA Division II program. In 1969 it made the move to Division I and won 11 team conference championships, had 14 top 25 finishes, three individuals (Stephen Abas, Mike Gallego and Steve Johansen) that combined to win six national championships and 33 All-Americans.
When President Castro came to Fresno State, he quickly learned how much passion the Central Valley had for the sport.
"If there was one thing that I heard when I became President and traveled around the Central Valley about what was important to the community -- yes, academic success was up there No. 1 -- but I'll tell you, everywhere I went, I heard about wrestling and the need to bring wrestling back to Fresno State," Castro said.
"Wrestling has such a storied history in the San Joaquin Valley," Castro added. "As we think about the future of Fresno State, and recruiting and retaining the most talented students from all different backgrounds, to come to this campus and to be prepared to assume leadership, the reestablishment of wrestling keeps our kids closer to home and gives them the opportunity to become heroes right here at Fresno State."
Steiner, who has spent the past 10 years at Oregon State, including the last four in the role of associate head coach, was selected by Director of Athletics Jim Bartko and his search committee chaired by Associate Athletics Director John Kriebs to restore the wrestling program at Fresno State and recapture the community's passion.
"We want to have a coach here that's the best, with a great resume, that can build this program top-to-bottom, bottom-to-top, graduate them and win national championships," Bartko said. "And we're very lucky to get that."
Steiner comes from a pedigree that few can stand up to, reaching 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 under Hall of Fame coach Dan Gable, 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.
Steiner will look to draw on his background to bring Fresno State back to being one of the top programs in the country, but knows that there will be much to do before that happens.
"It's going to take a lot of components," Steiner noted. "First thing I have to do is put a staff together. When I'm looking at staff, I'm looking for someone that cares about the athletes, No. 1. I need someone that's going to be there for them anytime, day or night, to help them fight through the struggles, because there will be struggles, both in the classroom and out. It's our job as a coach to mentor these guys. Yes, we want to create great wrestlers, but we want great young men."
"The recruiting, that never stops," Steiner continued about the initial stages of building the program. "I've got a valley here that isn't like any other, the San Joaquin Valley. It's loaded with talent...It's my job to get out there and share my vision of this program. It's going to take time building relationships with coaches, with parents and with athletes."
Steiner ended the press conference with words directed to the Valley when it comes to its help in rebuilding the program.
"People always say it takes a village to help raise a child, but it's going to take a valley, this Valley, to bring home a championship."
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