Doug Streicher confirms plan to retire as Linn-Mar boys’ head wrestling coach

MARION – When Doug Streicher took over the Linn-Mar wrestling program, he wanted to win.

He also valued how success was earned, wanting to achieve it in a specific manner.

“If you’re competitive, you say I want to win,” said Streicher, who was a two-time state champion for Starmont and an All-American at the University of Iowa. “It was also important to me to do it right. Do it the right way, do it with our own kids and build from within. That’s how I was raised.”

Streicher confirmed that he is retiring from head coaching after a 27-year tenure leading Linn-Mar’s boys’ wrestling team. He made the announcement Wednesday night at the Lions’ postseason banquet.

Streicher, 55, will continue as a physical education teacher and plans to stay close to the program.

“I really can’t pinpoint one thing,” Streicher said. “Time for a little less stress and a little more free time. I just felt like it was time.”

Streicher communicated with his staff about possibly stepping down. He realized during the season it would be his final one. Streicher was still looking out for the betterment of the program, giving assistants time to plan for the spring and summer.

“It was important for me to have a good transition, so we didn’t miss the training phase in freestyle,” Streicher said. “I wanted it to go smoothly. That is how I kind of planned it out and told them (assistants) at the beginning of the season this would probably be my last one. As the year went on, I just kind of knew.”

Streicher established a tight-knit community that shared the same goals, surrounding himself with quality assistants and parents. He devoted time to all levels of Linn-Mar wrestling. Longtime assistant Ryan Gotto said Streicher’s relationships with athletes and families was a key to his success.

“Most people probably don’t realize how heavily involved he is in all aspects of the program from our kids club to middle school and through high school,” Gotto said. “He starts building those relationships with the kids and their families as soon as they join our club from a young age.

“Because Coach Streicher has those close relationships he’s able to hold them to a high standard. He preaches to them about consistent improvement, not only in wrestling but all aspects of their life.”

His message extended beyond the mat. He used wrestling to emphasize life lessons for his athletes to apply outside of the sport.

“Wrestling for him was awesome,” Linn-Mar senior Kane Naaktgeboren said. “He showed a really good balance of tough love. He was hard on us to get the best out of everyone, not just wrestling. He said over and over: work hard, be empathetic, show gratitude and if you do that in every aspect of your life then you’ll be successful.”

Streicher started his teaching and coaching career in Illinois, where he was an assistant for four years. He returned to Iowa to take over the Lions, elevating the program to new heights and transforming it into a perennial winner.

Streicher applied the lessons learned from his high school wrestling coach Doug Guilford and football coach Dave Barclay at Starmont, and from his University of Iowa mentors Dan Gable, Mark Johnson and Barry Davis.

“That’s how I always felt a high school program should be built, so that was my dream,” Streicher said. “It worked out pretty good for the most part. I had some great people around helping me, whether they were assistant coaches, parents helping with the club or parents in general. This has been a great community for wrestling. When I needed help, I got help. It’s been awesome.”

Streicher, who opened this season 22nd on Iowa’s all-time dual wins list, finished with 432 career dual victories. Linn-Mar made seven state duals appearances, placing third in 2002 and fourth in 2022. The Lions set a school record with 30 dual wins in 2012.

Linn-Mar recorded 11 top-10 team finishes at the traditional tournament under Streicher, including a third-place finish in 2002 and fourth place in 2012, 2014 and 2023. Linn-Mar was ninth with 90 points and five state medalists in 2024.

He coached 152 state qualifiers, 84 state medalists, 28 state finalists and eight wrestlers to 14 individual state crowns. He coached Jay Borschel, who was Iowa’s 16th four-time state champion, and three-time state champion Matt McDonough. Tate Naaktgeboren was a two-time champion and four-time state finalist. Seven Lions were four-time state medalists, including Alijah Jeffery, Matt Wempen, Ross Lembeck and Kane Naaktgeboren, who sent Streicher out with a win after claiming the Class 3A 144-pound title in February.

“And being his last state champ is emotional. I’ve seen how many hours he put in and dedicated to this program, so to have that success with him is something I won’t forget, being able to ride off into the sunset with him after last season,” Kane Naaktgeboren said. “There is no other coach like Doug and I’m grateful I had a coach like him.”

Streicher plans to stay involved but just in a different capacity. He said he would like to continue working with the Linn-Mar Wrestling Club. The nights will be a bit earlier and the days will start later.

“We launched an endowment through our kids club last year that I want to see through to its completion, so that’s going to take years to do that,” Streicher said. “My goal to make Linn-Mar wrestling as good as it can possibly be is still the same. My role is going to be different.

“I don’t have to get up and get on a bus at 5 in the morning. If you see me on a yellow school bus, it probably means I’ve been abducted. … I need the relationships with the kids and parents in our program. I want to get that in a different way.”

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