JOHN STUTZMAN – HEAD COACH
Head coach John Stutzman returns to Bloomsburg for his second stint as the head wrestling coach for the 2024-25 year, as announced by director of athletics, Dr. Michael McFarland.
Coach Stutzman returns to Bloomsburg after a successful 11-year stint at the University of Buffalo. While with the Bulls, Stutzman led the team to an 89-107 record in dual meets and a 36-50 slate in MAC matches. Stutzman sent 25 wrestlers to the NCAA Championships during his time at Buffalo.
Before taking over the University of Buffalo program in 2013, Stutzman enjoyed a standout career at Bloomsburg. During his eight seasons with the Huskies, Stutzman posted a 97-56-1 record in duals and a 27-20 slate in EWL matches.
Stutzman has guided the Huskies to a record of 97-56-1 in his eight seasons ranking him third all-time in career wins. He has coached three NCAA Division I All-Americans, eight Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) champions, 76 EWL place winners and 33 NCAA Division I national qualifiers.
Three times Stutzman has earned the EWL Coach of the Year honor as well as producing the 2007 EWL and PSAC Freshman of the Year; the 2009 EWL Championship’s Outstanding Wrestler and the 2011 PSAC Freshman of the Year.
In 2012-13 Stutzman’s Huskies posted a record of 17-3 claiming the first outright EWL Dual Meet Championships in program history while beating three nationally ranked teams in Maryland, Pittsburgh, and Edinboro. The 17 wins are tied for the most in the programs history. As a team the Huskies finished ranked 15th in the country by the NWCA. At the EWL championships Sutzman led the Huskies to a third place finish, with two EWL Champions, while qualifying six wrestlers for the NCAA championships. Following the season he earned his third EWL Coach of the Year honor.
During the 2011-12 season Stutzman led the Huskies to a record of 16-7 and finished 2nd at the PSAC Championships as well as 5th at the EWL Championships. The 16 wins included wins over Ohio, West Virgina University, North Carolina State, and Buffalo. At the EWL championships Sutzman led the Huskies to a 5th place finish, while qualifying four wrestlers for the NCAA championships.
In 2010-11 Stutzman led the Huskies to a record of 14-6 and finished third at the EWL Championships. The 14 wins were the most for the program since the 1990-91 season and included wins over Penn, North Carolina State, Northern Iowa and Buffalo. At the EWL championships Stutzman led the Huskies to a third place finish, while qualifying two wrestlers for the NCAA championships, including EWL-champion Mike Dessino. Stutzman was honored by his fellow coaches at the end of the season by being named the EWL Coach of the Year.
In 2009-10 Stutzman led the Huskies to a record of 10-8, which included an appearance at the NWCA National Duals for the first time in 20 years.
During the 2008-09 season Bloomsburg was third at the EWL championships and had the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler in Matt Moley. At the NCAA championships Moley earned All-American honors for the second straight year, the first time since the 1988-89 season that a BU wrestler was All-American in consecutive seasons.
In 2007-08 Stutzman coached three wrestlers to the NCAA Championships with Matt Moley picking up All-American honors at 157 pounds.
During the 2006-07 season Stutzman earned EWL Coach of the Year honors helping Matt Moley earn the EWL and PSAC Rookie of the Year award and heavyweight Mike Spaid becoming the school’s first All-American since the 1993 season.
GABLE STRICKLAND – Assistant Coach
A standout collegiate wrestler and accomplished student-athlete at Lock Haven, Strickland joins the Bloomsburg staff after a decorated NCAA Division I career that included three NCAA Championship appearances, two Mid-American Conference (MAC) titles, and more than 100 collegiate victories. He also completed a graduate assistantship with Lock Haven Campus Recreation, where he coordinated intramural sports while gaining valuable leadership and event management experience.
“We’re excited to welcome Gable to our staff,” said Stutzman. “He understands what it takes to compete and succeed at the Division I level, and he’s done it with tremendous work ethic, discipline and character. Gable has a passion for teaching the sport, connects well with student-athletes and will be a great addition to our wrestling family as we continue to restore the glory.”
Strickland concluded his collegiate career as an extremely accomplished wrestler for Lock Haven. He captured MAC championships at 133 pounds in 2023 and 2024, qualified for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships three times, surpassed the 100-career win milestone, earned NWCA Scholar All-America honors during his graduate season, received the Bald Eagle Senior Award and was recognized as the 2023-24 Outbreak Athlete of the Year.
Before arriving at Lock Haven, Strickland starred at Benton High School, where he compiled a 134-24 career record, qualified for the PIAA Championships four times and earned three state medals, including a third-place finish as a senior.
In addition to his success on the mat, Strickland earned his bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Studies and Citizenship from Commonwealth University-Lock Haven. During his graduate assistantship, he planned and supervised campus intramural leagues, managed scheduling and risk-management procedures, resolved participant conflicts and collaborated with campus departments to enhance student programming.
As an assistant coach, Strickland will assist with all aspects of the Bloomsburg wrestling program, including daily training sessions, recruiting, student-athlete development, practice planning and competition preparation.
Overall College Record: 115-51
2025-26 GRADUATE SEASON
- Milestones & Awards: Career 100 Wins Club, 3rd Place – MAC Championships, NCAA DI Championships Qualifier, MAC East Wrestler of the Week (Week 12), Talon Awards – Bald Eagle Senior Award
- Season: Strickland finished with a 26-12 overall record, 9-6 in duals and 2-3 in MAC duals in his graduate season. He picked up two pins, six tech falls and four major decisions. He took third place in the MAC Championships by earning four wins before competing in the NCAA DI Championships.
2024-25 REDSHIRT SENIOR SEASON
Season: Taking a Redshirt-wrestling unattached, earning an overall record of 8-2. Coming out on top at Mat-Town Open I, totaling one pin, three techs, and one major.
2023-24 JUNIOR SEASON
- Awards: MAC East Wrestler of the Week (2/27)
- Season: 2024 National Qualifier… 2024 MAC Champion at 133 lbs… Overall record of 33-13… Strickland went 10-3 in dual meets… MAC dual record of 6-1… 3 pins, 5 tech falls, and 6 major decisions… 3rd-place finish at the Princeton Open… Placed 4th at the George Mason Patriot Open… Runner-Up at the F&M Open
2022-23 SOPHOMORE SEASON
Season: 2023 National Qualifier… 2023 MAC Champion at 133 lbs… Strickland finished with an overall record of 31-11… Went 10-5 in dual meets… Perfect 6-0 dual record (MAC)… 8 pins, 4 tech falls, and 6 major decisions… Won 133-pound title at the Princeton Open… George Mason Patriot Open Champion (133 lbs.)
2021-22 FRESHMAN SEASON
Awards: MAC Wrestler of the Week (12/9) after a come from behind win against Lehigh’s No. 22 Malyke Hines
Season: 3rd Place at MAC Championships at 133 lbs… Posted a 17-13 record
Prior to Lock Haven-Scholastic Career
- HS Record-Benton, PA High School: 134-24
- 4-time PA State Qualifier
- 3-time PA State Placer (5th, 5th, 3rd)
Barry Davis – Consulting Coach
Barry Davis stands as one of the most decorated and respected figures in the history of American wrestling. From an unmatched collegiate career to Olympic glory and decades of elite coaching in the Big Ten and the NCAA, Davis
brings a championship blueprint to the Husky Elite Wrestling Club as a Consulting Coach for the “Restore the Glory” campaign.
Collegiate and International Playing Career
A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Davis wrestled at the University of Iowa under legendary head coach Dan Gable, helping lead the Hawkeyes to four consecutive NCAA team titles. He stands as one of the most dominant collegiate
lightweight wrestlers to ever step onto a mat.
• 3x NCAA Division I National Champion (1982 at 118 lbs; 1983 and 1985 at 126 lbs)
• 4x NCAA All-American
• 1985 NCAA Tournament Outstanding Wrestler
• 4x Big Ten Conference Champion and the 1985 Big Ten Athlete of the Year
• University of Iowa Record Holder: He remains the winningest wrestler in Iowa history with a career record of 162-9-1, as well as the record-holder for single-season victories (46 in 1982).
On the international stage, Davis achieved world-class success representing the United States in freestyle wrestling:
• 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist (125.5 lbs) at the Los Angeles Summer Games.
• 2x Olympic Team Member (1984 Los Angeles, 1988 Seoul).
• World Championship Medalist: Earned a Bronze medal at the 1986 World Championships in Budapest and a Silver medal at the 1987 World Championships in Clermont-Ferrand.
• 1983 Pan American Games Gold Medalist.
Elite Coaching Resume
Following his competitive career, Davis transitioned directly into coaching, bringing his trademark intensity, technical acumen, and relentless work ethic to the corner.
• University of Iowa (Assistant Coach, 1986–1992): Served under Dan Gable, helping guide his alma mater to three NCAA team titles and seven consecutive Big Ten team championships.
• University of Wisconsin (Head Coach, 1994–2018): Spent 24 seasons at the helm of the Badgers program, becoming the winningest coach in Wisconsin history with 227 dual victories. He guided the Badgers to 15 top-20 NCAA finishes (including a 4th-place national finish in 2010), while mentoring 3 individual NCAA Champions, 26 All-Americans, and 8 Big Ten Champions.
• 2010 NWCA National Coach of the Year
• United States Naval Academy (Assistant Coach, 2024–2026): Lended his extensive veteran wisdom to the Midshipmen wrestling program in Annapolis.
Hall of Fame Recognitions
In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the sport as both a wrestler and a coach, Davis has been inducted into the nation’s most prestigious wrestling fraternities:
• Inducted as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (2007)
• Inducted into the National Iowa Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame (1998)
• Member of the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame
As a Consulting Coach for Husky Elite, Coach Davis brings this monumental wealth of knowledge, Big Ten grit, and a lifelong culture of winning to Bloomsburg to help shape the next era of Husky wrestling excellence.