Brad Penrith was a three-time NCAA finalist for the University of Iowa at 126 pounds and captured the 126-pound championship in 1986. He also won three Big Ten titles and won a silver medal at the World Championships in 1991, as well as gold medals at two Pan-American Games. In 1992 he was the only American to be ranked number one in the world. Serving as head coach at the University of Northern Iowa since 2000, Penrith has led the Panthers to three finishes in the top 20. He is a native of New York .

Jim Miller was NCAA Division II champion at 134 pounds for the University of Northern Iowa in 1974 and '75 and placed second and fourth in Division I those same years. But he earned his greatest fame as the man who coached Wartburg College into national prominence. He has won four Division II national titles and his Knight teams have placed in the top ten on 13 occasions. He was named Dan Gable Coach of the Year (for all divisions) by WIN magazine in 2004. He wrestled in high school at East Waterloo .