One of Iowa’s greatest wrestlers is making a comeback — sort of. 

Jeff McGinness was an NCAA champion for the University of Iowa in 1995 and 1998 after compiling a 172-0 record and winning four state titles for Iowa City High (1990-93). He is the only Hawkeye wrestler to win multiple NCAA titles at a weight two higher than his first championship (126 and 142). 

The former Iowa wrestling star will compete in the Class C Masters Freestyle division (43-50 years old) at 78 kg on Wednesday, April 23 thanks to prodding from his athletes. 

McGinness is the head women’s wrestling coach at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, and he used a potential comeback as a fundraising opportunity.

“We used it as our spring fundraiser to get people to donate,” said Simpson associate head coach Emma Cochran. “One of our girls came up with the idea of him competing in the master division in Vegas, and we hit our goal.

“McGinness set a high goal thinking we wouldn’t hit it, or that his wife would say no and he would get out of it. But his wife, family, old coaches, and Storm family were in full support.”

The former Hawkeye is arguably the best high school wrestler Iowa has produced. He is one of seven Iowa prep wrestlers to complete his career undefeated and one of two four-time state champions to win multiple NCAA titles.

USA Wrestling selected McGinness as the 2025 U20 Women's Freestyle World Team Coach. The U20 World Championships are August 18-24 in Sofia, Bulgaria. 

Jeff McGinness’s NCAA Titles Runs

1995 NCAA Championships, 126 pounds, One Seed
R64: Erik Gustafson, Eastern Illinois, Fall 1:46
R32: Jason Kobrynich, East Stroudsburg, 16-7
R16: Tom Koch, Lehigh, 11-2
Q: Brian Bolton, Michigan State, 3-0
S: Dwight Hinson, Iowa State, 3-2
F: Sanshiro Abe, Penn State, 6-4

1998 NCAA Championships, 142 pounds, Two Seed
R64: Melvin Saunders, North Carolina-Greensboro, Fall 2:07
R32: Pierre Pryor, North Carolina State, Fall 5:34
R16: JohnMark Bentley, North Carolina, 6-3
Q: Tom Tomeo, Clarion, Clarion, 6-2
S: Jason Davids, Minnesota, 8-4
F: Casey Cunningham, Central Michigan, 3-1

Former Iowa wrestling star Jeff McGinness explains his unconventional path to Simpson's head women's coaching role.