OHIO STATE | WRESTLING
Rowlands would give up Olympics to coach Buckeyes
Jeremy McLaughlin
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The most decorated wrestler in Ohio State history might become its new coach, but the opportunity Tommy Rowlands craves comes with a sacrifice.
Rowlands, the Buckeyes’ only four-time wrestling All-American, said he will interview next week to become the next Ohio State wrestling coach. Russ Hellickson is retiring after 20 seasons.
If Rowlands is hired, the 24-year-old said he would have no hesitation in casting aside his dream of winning a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in China, a goal he has been training toward the past two years.
“It wouldn’t be fair to the university or to the guys on the team or the guys I’m recruiting (to continue to wrestle), “he said. “It obviously would be a tough decision, but I would be bound to our program and (coaching) is something I want to do.
“I’m at a point in my life where I can compromise one dream for the other.”
Rowlands is believed to be one of a handful of candidates who will interview for the job next week. Ohio State associate athletics director Heather Lyke said a new coach should be hired before the end of the month.
Other possible successors include Hofstra coach Tom Ryan, Central Michigan coach Tom Borrelli and Illinois assistant coach Jim Heffernan. Ryan and Borrelli were approached by Ohio State and given permission by their schools to apply, school officials said. Ryan said he has an interview with OSU on Tuesday.
Former Iowa coach Jim Zalesky also could be in the mix but is also a candidate at Oregon State. Terry Brands, a coach at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, also might be interviewed. Cornell coach Rob Koll said he pulled his name from consideration last week.
Rowlands has the least experience of the group. He served as a volunteer assistant for a season and is currently the program’s director of the operations. He is two years removed from winning the NCAA heavyweight championship but doesn’t believe his youth would be a detriment.
“I would consider (my age) a positive, “he said.
Wrestling Gear
