A pioneer in Iowa women's wrestling just secured her future and the program's for years to come.
Clarissa Chun made history as the first head coach of the Iowa women's wrestling program at the University of Iowa in 2021 and has turned the program into a juggernaut in only three years. After winning back-to-back titles in her first two seasons (2024, 2025), the Hawkeyes finished as national runners-up in 2026.
Following another successful season where Iowa crowned three individual national champions and had nine All-American selections, the program made the smart move to keep Chun in Iowa City for the foreseeable future.
Extending Chun was exactly the right move for the program
Even though a runner-up finish might seem like a down year for the program, what Chun has accomplished is nothing short of spectacular, and the program wants to keep her at the helm.
Iowa announces that head coach Clarissa Chun has received a contract extension through 2031.
— Ross Bartachek (@rossbchek) May 29, 2026
Chun has won two NCWWC national titles in the program’s three year history, and was the NCAA runner-up in March. pic.twitter.com/xbxuaPbJAU
Chun is now on board through the 2031 season, securing not only her future but the program's as well. The extension is well-deserved, and her coaching resume speaks for itself. In the program's first three years of existence, Chun has coached 12 Hawkeyes to individual national titles, five national runners-up, and 36 All-Americans.
It is no surprise that Chun has found success with the Hawkeyes as she was one of the most accomplishment international wrestlers around. She tallied five U.S. Open Championships, four Pan American Championships, and earned a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics in London.
The Hawkeyes' women's wrestling program is still in the early stages, but Chun has turned them into a perennial national championship contender, and the extension makes sense for everyone involved. Even though they fell just short this season, the Hawkeyes are poised to recapture the title with a dominant 2026 recruiting class coming in.
Led by Everest Leydecker and Carly Ceshker, No. 1 and No. 2 overall prospects in the 2026 class, the Hawkeyes are reloading and ready to capture their third title in four years. Chun has the program headed in the right direction, and Iowa will remain championship favorites with her in charge.
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