EMAIL COACH STEWARD

Randy Steward took over the Loras wrestling program in 1993 and has developed the Duhawks into one of the premier programs in the nation at the NCAA Division III level.  Steward enters the 2011-12 year as the winningest coach in Loras history, sporting an overall mark of  200-142-2.

Loras has finished in the national top 16 nine times during Steward's tenure, highlighted by a seventh place finish in 2001-02. Four times under Steward the Duhawks have finished as the runner-up in the premier Division III wrestling conference in the country, the Iowa Conference.

Not only do Steward's wrestlers take care of business on the mat (29 All-Americans under his direction), but the Duhawks are honored in the classroom as well as he has coached 15 Academic All-Americans. Steward holds a bachelor's degree from Cornell College (1982) and a master's degree from Northwest Missouri State University (1986).

A native of DeWitt, Iowa, Steward was a four-time national qualifier while at Cornell.  In just his second season leading the Duhawks, he was named co-Iowa Conference Coach of the Year.  In 2010-11, Steward earned his second Iowa Conference Coach of the Year award after the Duhawks' breakout performance at the 2011 Iowa Conference Championships. Before coming to Loras, he was the Athletics Director and Head Wrestling Coach at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa.

PH: 563-588-7057
EMAIL Coach Birt

Ryan Birt joined the Loras College wrestling staff beginning in 2010-11 after a successful coaching career at the high school level and a successful college career of his own at Upper Iowa University where he was recently indcuted to the Hall of Fame.

Birt wrestled and played football for the Peacocks from 1997-2000 when they were members of the Iowa Conference. His career included a perfect 39-0 season and national championship in 1999 - a year he was also the Iowa Conference's Most Valuable Wrestler. He was a two-time IIAC champion and added a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships in 1997.

Since graduating from Upper Iowa in 2000 with degrees in Physical Education and Secondary Special Education, Birt has been a teacher at Forest City High School (one year) and Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School (nine years). In his nine years as a head coach he compiled over 150 dual wins and showed regular success in tournaments. Birt qualified 20 individuals for the Illinois (IHSA) State Tournament, including 11 place-winners and two state champions.

Birt handles the day-to-day duties alongside head coach Randy Steward as the top assistant coach.

Hanson joins the coaching staff in 2011-12 after a four-year wrestling career with the Duhawks. Last season, Hanson wrapped up his career on the All-American podium at the NCAA Division III Championships in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. He finished in sixth place at 157 pounds - his third trip to the championships. Hanson closed his career with 110 wins and became the 13th member of Loras' 100 Wins Club and was the 29th All-American to wrestle for head coach Randy Steward.

Willie starts as a member of the coaching staff in 2011 after earning four letters during wrestling career with the Duhawks. Slayden won over 30 matches in his time in a Loras uniform.

Casarez is in his sixth year as a member of the coaching staff at Loras. A Duhawk wrestling alum, Casarez was a two-time national qualifier from 1995-97 and was national champion at his weight class in 1996-97 for Loras. Casarez went 68-8 while wearing the purple and gold, good for third on Loras' all-time winning percentage list.