IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa women’s wrestling head coach Clarissa Chun has received a contract extension through 2031, the announcement was made Friday by Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair Beth Goetz.
Chun was named the first head coach in the history of the program on Nov. 18, 2021. Chun has led Hawkeye women’s wrestling to a pair of NCWWC national championships and is a two-time Women’s Coach of the Year by USA Wrestling (2024, 2025). Over the first three years of competition, Chun has coached Hawkeye wrestlers to 12 individual national titles, five national runner-up finishes, and a total of 36 All-Americans.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the continued trust and support from Beth Goetz and the University of Iowa,” said Chun. “This extension reflects the commitment we’ve made to building a championship program the right way- through hard work, accountability, and developing student-athletes who excel both on and off the mat. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together and excited about where we’re headed.”
Chun and the Hawkeyes were NCAA national runners-up in 2026, crowning three national champions and nine Hawkeyes earning All-America distinction. The Hawkeyes advanced all 10 wrestlers, including winning eight individual regional titles, and were Region V team champions. In regular season competition, Iowa posted a 14-1 record.
In 2025, the Hawkeyes repeated as NCWWC National Champions as well as NWCA National Duals Champions. For the second straight season, the Hawkeyes went undefeated in dual competition, going 19-0. The team crowned three individual national champions and had 15 All-Americans. Kennedy Blades was recognized as USA Wrestling’s Women’s College Wrestler of the Year.
The Hawkeyes were 16-0 in dual competition, captured the NCWWC national championship and NWCA National Duals title in the inaugural season of competition in 2024. Chun mentored six individual champions and 12 All-Americans. Kylie Welker was named The Open Mat’s Female Wrestler of the Year, while Welker and MarIynne Deede were finalists for USA Wrestling’s Women’s College Wrestler of the Year. In addition to being named the Women’s Coach of the Year, she was awarded the 2024 NCWC Trailblazer Award and was USA Today’s Iowa Woman of the Year.
Chun and the Hawkeyes have also excelled in the classroom with Hawkeye women’s wrestlers recognized as a NWCA Scholar All-American a combined 35 times over the last three years, including a program-best 16 in 2026.
