Tom Brands is easily rated as one of the top intensity wrestlers this sport has ever seen. His work ethic has rarely, if ever, been matched on the mat. In college, Brands was a force for the Iowa Hawkeyes,… + See More +
Tom Brands is easily rated as one of the top intensity wrestlers this sport has ever seen. His work ethic has rarely, if ever, been matched on the mat. In college, Brands was a force for the Iowa Hawkeyes,… + See More
- See Less - Tom Brands is easily rated as one of the top intensity wrestlers this sport has ever seen. His work ethic has rarely, if ever, been matched on the mat. In college, Brands was a force for the Iowa Hawkeyes, capturing the "Gablesque" mentality of the sport by constantly attacking and putting pressure on his opponents.
Tom Brands was a four time All-American and three time NCAA national champion in college. He built off his collegiate success and competed for the U.S. in freestyle. Brands won the Gold medal at both the World Championships in 1993 and at the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996.
He continues today as the head coach of the Iowa Hawkeye program to lead the new generation of Iowa wrestlers.
#31
Anonymous Coward November 5 at 1:44am
Awesome, awesome interview! Thank you, flo. I'm glad that some of the posters who have never met Tom Brands are getting to see what kind of person he is. I've had the fortune of speaking with both of the Brands brothers on several occasions, and I'm always amazed at how genuine they are.
comment 22 cant be serious i think he is fu**ing with everyone there is no way he can be that stupid either that or he is just some old timer that lost his memory either way thats funny as hell when ppl think they know what they are talking about
i got too watched terry brands at a jr/high school camp. he was unbeliveable powerfully in teaching stlye was perfect speaking clear wow on and on. these guys will go into the hall of fame gooooooooooooohawks
Barns Fans said: “I have always been the biggest Tom Barns fan since he began wrestling at the greatest university in the world, Iowa State University. I am so happy that Coach Barns made it to Beat the Streets in Chicago and gave this amazing interview. I don't ever remember Coach Barns smiling so much ever when he competed! Heck, even when he won the Olympic Gold Medal over the Russian, he just ran off the mat and into the arms of Coach Douglas, almost as if he wanted to go train more for something better or more challenging! That mentality is the ISU way! Thank you so much Flo for bringing these amazing interviews to fans who have grown up watching their idols compete for decades like Coach Barns. You guys deserve a huge amount of credit too! I wish Coach all the best for next season and please keep your head after finishing second at last year's NCAAs but in all fairness, as you stated in this interview, you did it without having a single champion, a feat that is mind boggling! Great interview!!! Go Hawkeyes! ”
Martin, You Guys Are The Best. You Get Right To The Heart Of The Matter And Tom Brands Sense's You Are Right On With Your Questions And Thoughts. Keep Up THe Good Work Because NOBODY Does It Better Then You!!
Barns Fans said: “I have always been the biggest Tom Barns fan since he began wrestling at the greatest university in the world, Iowa State University. I am so happy that Coach Barns made it to Beat the Streets in Chicago and gave this amazing interview. I don't ever remember Coach Barns smiling so much ever when he competed! Heck, even when he won the Olympic Gold Medal over the Russian, he just ran off the mat and into the arms of Coach Douglas, almost as if he wanted to go train more for something better or more challenging! That mentality is the ISU way! Thank you so much Flo for bringing these amazing interviews to fans who have grown up watching their idols compete for decades like Coach Barns. You guys deserve a huge amount of credit too! I wish Coach all the best for next season and please keep your head after finishing second at last year's NCAAs but in all fairness, as you stated in this interview, you did it without having a single champion, a feat that is mind boggling! Great interview!!! Go Hawkeyes!”
I have always been the biggest Tom Barns fan since he began wrestling at the greatest university in the world, Iowa State University. I am so happy that Coach Barns made it to Beat the Streets in Chicago and gave this amazing interview. I don't ever remember Coach Barns smiling so much ever when he competed! Heck, even when he won the Olympic Gold Medal over the Russian, he just ran off the mat and into the arms of Coach Douglas, almost as if he wanted to go train more for something better or more challenging! That mentality is the ISU way! Thank you so much Flo for bringing these amazing interviews to fans who have grown up watching their idols compete for decades like Coach Barns. You guys deserve a huge amount of credit too! I wish Coach all the best for next season and please keep your head after finishing second at last year's NCAAs but in all fairness, as you stated in this interview, you did it without having a single champion, a feat that is mind boggling! Great interview!!! Go Hawkeyes!
I wonder how those hangers feel being on cam for the entire interview and being in the same room as an Olympic GOLD medalist. Are the hangers intimidated? Scared? Confident? To me, they look indifferent like they don't give a rat's fat butt about Brands' credentials and that is what we should all take away from this incredible video. That is, we should never be in awe of our competition be it an Olympic Gold Medalist coach or some stiff who can't tie his own shoelaces. Just focus on what you have to do as the hangers are in this video, they are just hanging around.
Tom seems a lot more reflective than he was just five years ago, let alone when he was wrestling. Los Bros Brands grew up near my uncle, and I got to work with two of them at camps -- they were always amped up to 11 (Terry probably 11.5). It's interesting to watch them grow as a coaches.
(Cliff Fretwell, you wouldn't get a beer with either of them, they don't drink; their dad was a mean alcoholic.)
Ya know Tom seems like the type of guy you'd be scare to death to talk to, but the more interviews I see I think he'd be a great guy to grab a beer and rap wrestling with and not be scared to get punched int he face.
Flo has actually done a bad thing and started humanizing the Brands to the world.
Makes me sooooo sooo amazingly proud to have wrestled and now have the good fortune of being able to Coach a HS team. Working from the ground up with this crew and Tom Brands just inspires me like crazy! What an absolute stud!
Awesome interview, very insightful... when i saw that it was 14 minutes I didn't think I would listen to the whole thing... but once it was over wanted to hear more
I admired Tom Brands as a wrestler and used to put his poster up at work for inspiration. In addition to his career as a wrestler, Tom Brands, in this Flow video displays the essential elements of leadership: Commitment, Candour, Confidence, and Class. Tom talks about using adversity to create greater success and accepting reality; learning from not only his Coach, but also his top competitor. If corporate America, while digging out of a recession, is not booking Coach Tom Brands for motivational speeches, then corporate American is missing out on a great addition to our 'fight back' arsenal. Hats off to Coach Brands, a great 4C leader.
tom brands is THE coolest mofo around, he and brother Terry also did talks for Athletes in Action back in Iowa. I may not be a huge fan of Iowa domination year after year, but how can you not be a fan of this guy?
great interview fellas
I tell ya, I would like to see a lil more of this side of Tom Brands. Most interviews of him he sounds like a prick but it is nice to see that he really is a good guy.
Great interview! That was honest! I think that showed Tom Brands and the Iowa Wrestling program has alot more integrity than some people want to give them credit for. Can't wait for next year!
This guy is intense and it can't help but to be transfered into his wrestlers. Anyone have any of those interviews of Tom at Nationals this year! Classic!
The Energy at Beat the Streets is high and Tom Brands could feel it right away. He goes into Beat the Streets, how he got to NYC and why he came. He also talks about looking up to John Smith when he was in high school and college. And Lastly he looks back on the Iowa season and goes into how he is working on better Communication with his guys in key areas. May 1, 2009
Tom Brands Energy
“I have always been the biggest Tom Barns fan since he began wrestling at the greatest university in the world, Iowa State University. I am so happy that Coach Barns made it to Beat the Streets in Chicago and gave this amazing interview. I don't ever remember Coach Barns smiling so much ever when he competed! Heck, even when he won the Olympic Gold Medal over the Russian, he just ran off the mat and into the arms of Coach Douglas, almost as if he wanted to go train more for something better or more challenging! That mentality is the ISU way! Thank you so much Flo for bringing these amazing interviews to fans who have grown up watching their idols compete for decades like Coach Barns. You guys deserve a huge amount of credit too! I wish Coach all the best for next season and please keep your head after finishing second at last year's NCAAs but in all fairness, as you stated in this interview, you did it without having a single champion, a feat that is mind boggling! Great interview!!! Go Hawkeyes!
”
“I have always been the biggest Tom Barns fan since he began wrestling at the greatest university in the world, Iowa State University. I am so happy that Coach Barns made it to Beat the Streets in Chicago and gave this amazing interview. I don't ever remember Coach Barns smiling so much ever when he competed! Heck, even when he won the Olympic Gold Medal over the Russian, he just ran off the mat and into the arms of Coach Douglas, almost as if he wanted to go train more for something better or more challenging! That mentality is the ISU way! Thank you so much Flo for bringing these amazing interviews to fans who have grown up watching their idols compete for decades like Coach Barns. You guys deserve a huge amount of credit too! I wish Coach all the best for next season and please keep your head after finishing second at last year's NCAAs but in all fairness, as you stated in this interview, you did it without having a single champion, a feat that is mind boggling! Great interview!!! Go Hawkeyes!”
(Cliff Fretwell, you wouldn't get a beer with either of them, they don't drink; their dad was a mean alcoholic.)
Flo has actually done a bad thing and started humanizing the Brands to the world.
great interview fellas
This guy is intense and it can't help but to be transfered into his wrestlers. Anyone have any of those interviews of Tom at Nationals this year! Classic!