AMES, Iowa - Two-time World Wrestling Championships silver medalist Alli St. John (Ragan) has been selected as the first head coach of the Iowa State women's wrestling program, ISU Endowed Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard announced today. The Cyclones will begin competing in the sport during the 2027-28 academic year; however, St. John's program is open for business as it begins to build a roster for its debut season.
"Alli St. John is one of the United States' most-decorated women's wrestlers ever, and we are thrilled that she has agreed to lead the Iowa State women's wrestling program as we launch an exciting new era in Cyclone Athletics," Pollard said. "She enjoys an outstanding reputation in the wrestling community, and we look forward to watching her build a championship program on the mat at Iowa State.
"She has done an outstanding job cultivating and working with donors to the Cyclone Regional Training Center the last three years, and her engaging personality and competitive spirit, coupled with the success she has enjoyed in the sport competitively, make her the right candidate to lead this program," he added.
In 2013, St. John represented the U.S. at the Summer Universiade and took silver in the women's 59 kg event. She again won silver in the women's freestyle 60 kg event at the 2016 World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary and in the same event at the 2017 World Wrestling Championships in Paris, France. All-told, she represented Team USA on six Senior World Teams during her 10-year professional career for USA Wrestling.
"I am incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to be the first head coach of women's wrestling at Iowa State University," St. John said. "This is a historic moment not only for Iowa State University, but for the sport of wrestling, too. Iowa State has a rich wrestling tradition, and I'm excited to expand that legacy on the women's side as we work to build a premier program in Ames that produces not only NCAA champions, but World and Olympic champions as well."
As an undergraduate student at King (Tenn.) University, St. John was a two-time Women's College national champion and a four-time finalist. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Kings in 2014.
She spent two years as women's coach of the Big Game Wrestling Club (2021-23) and then served as an assistant coach of the Grand View College women's wrestling program during the 2021-22 campaign. St. John earned her master's degree in Sports Management from Grand View in 2022.
"Having had Alli work for me and the Cyclone Regional Training Center the past three years just reinforces Jamie's decision to hire Alli as our new head women's wrestling coach," said ISU Director of Wrestling Kevin Dresser. "She has the resume, work ethic, name recognition and drive to successfully lead this program and build a team from scratch. Alli also knows the Cyclone fan base well and enjoys a strong relationship with it. I look forward to working with Alli and her staff to set this program up for success when it launches in in 2027-28."
The first women's wrestler inducted into the Glen Brand National Wrestling Hall of Fame (2020), St. John is also a member of the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Hall of Fame (2024).
The Carbondale, Ill., native and her husband, Derek, an assistant coach on the ISU men's wrestling staff, reside in Ames with their daughter, Stevie.
