Cornell College Men's Wrestling

Duroe and I have been in very close contact since I graduated. Hes been a mentor for me this whole time Ive been away. I look forward to continue to learn from him. Wrestling is my passion. I feel lucky to be able to coach here at Cornell. This is exactly what Ive been looking for. Nothern is one of seven wrestlers in Cornells storied history to earn all-America honors three times in a career. He was an NCAA runner-up at 133 pounds as a junior. Nothern placed sixth at nationals in 2008, and fifth in 2010. Nothern fashioned a 33-4 record during his senior season. He was Iowa Conference runner-up in 2008 and 2010. Nothern helped guide the Rams to top-10 NCAA team finishes in 2008 (seventh) and 2009 (eighth). Nick is an amazing competitor, said Duroe, entering his 10th season at the helm. The two things that stand out are his passion for the sport and his tremendous work ethic. Both qualities will steer him well as a coach. Nick relates well with student-athletes and has a strong ability to recruit. Were extremely excited for him to continue to develop his skills in our program. Hes a bright young coach. Nothern earned a bachelors degree in kinesiology from Cornell, and received his masters in higher education from Iowa State University in 2012. Nothern spent the 2012-13 year as admissions representative and volunteer assistant at Bethany (Lindsborg, Kan.) College, where he coached one All-American. He was a graduate assistant at Iowa Lakes Community College (2010-12), landing four All-Americans and one national champion during that span. Nothern resides in Cedar Rapids with his wife Beth, a 2010 Cornell graduate. Burkle, a native of Coggon, and a 2007 graduate of Upper Iowa University, is in his ninth season on Cornell's coaching staff. Burkle was a student assistant coach at Upper Iowa during the 2006-07 season, in which the Peacocks placed eighth at the NCAA Division II National Championships and crowned one individual champion. He was a three-year starter at Upper Iowa, competing at 141 and 149 pounds. During his sophomore year, Burkle was voted Upper Iowa's Most Valuable Wrestler and led the team in wins and pins. Burkle earned a bachelor's degree in criminology with a minor in psychology. Burkle compiled a 158-10 career record at North-Linn High School, where he was a four-time state qualifier and three-time state finalist. He captured the Class 1A state title at 130 pounds in 2002. Burkle placed second at state in 2001 (130) and 2003 (135). Fields, a 2008 All-American heavyweight at the University of Iowa, is in his sixth season as an assistant on Mike Duroes coaching staff. Fields, a native of Lowden, was a three-time Big Ten placewinner for the Hawkeyes and compiled a career record of 95-38. During his senior season, Fields finished 32-8, placed third at the Big Ten Championships and took fifth at the NCAA Championships. He was named the teams Most Improved Wrestler and also honored with the J. Donald McPike award, presented to the graduating senior with the highest grade point average. Fields posted a 24-12 collegiate record in both his junior and freshman seasons, while going 15-6 during his sophomore year which was cut short due to an injury. He took fourth at the Big Ten Championships in 2007, and fifth in 2005.  Fields earned a bachelors degree from Iowa in health and sports studies. Fields finished a distinguished prep career at North Cedar 137-11, going undefeated as a junior (44-0) and senior (22-0). He won back-to-back state championships and placed second as a sophomore.

Brent Hamm was named head coach of Cornell College’s storied wrestling program on April 9, 2019. A 2015 Cornell graduate and Iowa City native, Hamm has been a vital part of Cornell’s wrestling program since 2012. He was a four-year starter and two-time NCAA qualifier under the late Hall of Fame Coach Mike Duroe. Hamm spent three seasons in the coaching corner with Duroe before taking on head interim duties during the 2018-19 campaign. Hamm guided the 2024-25 Rams to an impressive 14-5 dual record, marking the second-most wins in program history. The team claimed nine placewinners at the Region VI Championships and finished No. 13 in the national dual rankings.  Hamm's 2023-24 Rams scored a program-record 107.5 points at the Lower Midwest Region Championships. Cornell's fifth-place regional showing was its highest finish since 2016. The Rams landed eight regional placewinners, two NCAA qualifiers and crowned its first NCAA All-American since 2018. In 2022-23, Hamm led Cornell to a 9-3 dual record and sixth-place showing at regionals. The Rams claimed six regional placewinners, highlighted by one NCAA qualifier. Hamm guided the 2020-21 Rams to a strong performance at the NWCA Championships, crowning a pair of all-Americans in Killian Perrigon (fifth at 157 pounds) and Casey Allen (fifth at 165). That team finished 5-2 in dual competition.  The Rams have fielded 35 NWCA Scholar All-Americans and 35 regional placewinners with Hamm as head coach. The Rams were named an NWCA All-Academic Team in 2018-19.  Hamm was the team’s lead assistant for the 2017-18 season, when the Rams crowned three all-Americans and placed 17th at the NCAA Division III Championships.    Hamm received a strong endorsement from former Cornell coach Steve DeVries, a Hall of Famer who won 130 duals and 10 Midwest Conference championships with the Rams from 1982-2000. DeVries was a part-time assistant on the 2018-19 staff. “I’m happy to see Brent is going to be staying with us,” DeVries said. “He is a real student of wrestling and continues to learn about the sport. He takes it very seriously, has strong self-discipline and a great work ethic. “For as young as he is, Brent has a good handle for discipline and communicating expectations to student-athletes. Brent’s had more put on his plate than is typical for a young coach and he’s responded very well.” As a wrestler on the Hilltop, Hamm recorded 90 victories from 2011-15. The two-time team captain qualified for the NCAA Championships at 174 pounds in 2014 and 2015. A four-time regional placewinner, Hamm captured the Central Region title in 2015.   Hamm also excelled in the class room, earning three NWCA Scholar All-America awards as a student-athlete. A member of the Dean’s List, Hamm received team Most Dedicated, Most Improved and Most Valuable awards. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Cornell in exercise science. Hamm was head coach of Lisbon Matpack Wrestling Club from 2015-17.

Burkle was a student assistant coach at Upper Iowa during the 2006-07 season, in which the Peacocks placed eighth at the NCAA Division II National Championships and crowned one individual champion. He was a three-year starter at Upper Iowa, competing at 141 and 149 pounds. During his sophomore year, Burkle was voted Upper Iowa's Most Valuable Wrestler and led the team in wins and pins. Burkle earned a bachelor's degree in criminology with a minor in psychology. Burkle compiled a 158-10 career record at North-Linn High School, where he was a four-time state qualifier and three-time state finalist. He captured the Class 1A state title at 130 pounds in 2002. Burkle placed second at state in 2001 (130) and 2003 (135). Fields, a 2008 All-American heavyweight at the University of Iowa, is in his sixth season as an assistant on Mike Duroes coaching staff. Fields, a native of Lowden, was a three-time Big Ten placewinner for the Hawkeyes and compiled a career record of 95-38. During his senior season, Fields finished 32-8, placed third at the Big Ten Championships and took fifth at the NCAA Championships. He was named the teams Most Improved Wrestler and also honored with the J. Donald McPike award, presented to the graduating senior with the highest grade point average. Fields posted a 24-12 collegiate record in both his junior and freshman seasons, while going 15-6 during his sophomore year which was cut short due to an injury. He took fourth at the Big Ten Championships in 2007, and fifth in 2005.  Fields earned a bachelors degree from Iowa in health and sports studies. Fields finished a distinguished prep career at North Cedar 137-11, going undefeated as a junior (44-0) and senior (22-0). He won back-to-back state championships and placed second as a sophomore.