Iowa State University Athletics
Wrestling (W)
- Title:
- Head Coach
Two-time World Wrestling Championships silver medalist Alli St. John (Ragan) was named the first head coach of the Iowa State women's wrestling program on April 16, 2016.
St. John is building her staff and roster for the program's debut season in 2027-28.
In 2013, St. John represented the U.S. at the Summer Universiade and took silver in the women’s 59 kg event. She again won silver in the women’s freestyle 60 kg event at the 2016 World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary and in the same event at the 2017 World Wrestling Championships in Paris, France. All-told, she represented Team USA on six Senior World Teams during her 10-year professional career for USA Wrestling.
As an undergraduate student at King (Tenn.) University, St. John was a two-time Women’s College national champion and a four-time finalist. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Kings in 2014.
She spent two years as women’s coach of the Big Game Wrestling Club (2021-23) and then served as an assistant coach of the Grand View College women’s wrestling program during the 2021-22 campaign. St. John earned her master’s degree in Sports Management from Grand View in 2022.
The first women’s wrestler inducted into the Glen Brand National Wrestling Hall of Fame (2020), St. John is also a member of the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Hall of Fame (2024).
The Carbondale, Ill., native and her husband, Derek, an assistant coach on the ISU men’s wrestling staff, reside in Ames with their daughter, Stevie.
