Update: Morningstar earns dream job with alma mater

IOWA CITY - Ryan Morningstar received numerous text messages and phone calls the last day or so.

Most of them were welcoming him home and sharing their anticipation for his return. It was a reaction that paled to his own excitement.

The University of Iowa and coach Tom Brands announced Wednesday that Morningstar will join the wrestling staff as a full-time assistant coach, welcoming back the Hawkeyes two-time All-American. Morningstar officially starts July 1, replacing Mike Zadick who was on the Iowa staff in various positions for at least nine seasons, including the last two as an interim assistant.

Morningstar, a three-time state champion from Lisbon, accepted the offer Tuesday.

“It's pretty exciting for me,” Morningstar said. “It's something that I've always wanted to do, and I'm glad to have the opportunity to do it.”

Morningstar served last year as an assistant to University of Wisconsin head coach Barry Davis. It was a tough decision to leave Madison, Wis., where he began coaching, and the potential of the incoming recruiting class he helped assemble. Returning to the program where he was a two-time All-American - third in 2009 and seventh in 2010 - proved to be too hard to pass.

“I loved working with Barry. He's a good guy,” Morningstar said. “A lot of jobs couldn't have presented themselves and I wouldn't have gone anywhere, but this is my alma mater. I'll be working with my mentors. It was hard to turn down.”

Brands helped elevate Morningstar to All-American status, coaching him on three NCAA Championship teams (2008-2010). He welcomes Morningstar's addition.

“I'm excited to welcome Ryan Morningstar to the coaching staff,” said Brands in a news release. “He obviously has strong ties to the Iowa program and I have no doubt he takes a tremendous amount of pride in Hawkeye wrestling. I know he gained some valuable experience in the coaching ranks last season and I think, once again, he's going to be a tremendous asset to our program.”

A year in the Badgers program was a learning experience. Morningstar was successful, helping bring in strong recruits, while working directly with 165-pounder Ben Jordan, who was Wisconsin's lone All-American. What was the biggest lesson?

“The most important thing is getting the most out of your guys,” Morningstar said. “Get the most you can possibly get out of them on and off the mat. It's forming guys to be successful even when they're done wrestling.

“You want to win NCAA titles but at the same time you want guys doing the right thing in the classroom and the community.”

Morningstar handled recruiting, academics and middle weights at Wisconsin. He expects to be at the forefront of recruiting and also work with the Hawkeye middle weights. He welcomes the rigors of recruiting after learning the ropes last year, and looks forward to landing top talent for Iowa.

“It was an eye-opener, but it was good because I enjoyed doing it,” Morningstar said. “I loved going out and recruiting. I was on the road a lot. I was everywhere. There was a time where I didn't sleep in my own bed for quite some time.”

Morningstar battled knee injury while competing at the USA Wrestling Olympic Trials in April at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. He didn't qualify and has undergone knee surgery to repair his knee. He will take a year off of training, and focus solely on his new role.

“Right now, I'm 100-percent committed to win an NCAA title at Iowa this year,” said Morningstar, who was named Iowa's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner and Mike McGivern Award, the team's annual award to the most courageous wrestler in 2010.

Below is the official press release from UI SID:

BRANDS NAMES MORNINGSTAR ASSISTANT COACH

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Former University of Iowa All-American Ryan Morningstar has been appointed to the Iowa wrestling staff as a full-time assistant coach. The announcement was made today by head coach Tom Brands.

“I'm excited to welcome Ryan Morningstar to the coaching staff,” said Brands. “He obviously has strong ties to the Iowa program and I have no doubt he takes a tremendous amount of pride in Hawkeye wrestling. I know he gained some valuable experience in the coaching ranks last season and I think, once again, he's going to be a tremendous asset to our program.”

Morningstar joins the Iowa staff after serving as an assistant coach at Wisconsin for one season. He joined the Badger staff following a collegiate career that included four NCAA appearances (2007-10) as a Hawkeye. He earned All-America honors in 2009 and 2010, and was a member of three NCAA championship teams (2008-10).

“I couldn't be more excited to come home and work for my mentors,” said Morningstar. “The University of Iowa is a special place and I'm really looking forward to rejoining the wrestling program and getting to work."

Morningstar placed third at the NCAA championships and was a Big Ten runner-up at 165 pounds in 2009. He suffered a knee injury during his senior season (2010) but still went on to place seventh at the NCAAs and fourth at the Big Ten championships. That same year he was named Iowa's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner and won the Mike McGivern Award, which is given annually to the team's most courageous wrestler.