MOUNT VERNON – Dominique Smalley has been named head coach of Cornell College's new women's wrestling program, as announced April 26 by Director of Athletics Seth Wing.
 
Smalley begins her duties May 1 as the head of Cornell's 20th NCAA Division III intercollegiate varsity sport. The program's inaugural competition season will get underway in the 2023-24 academic year.
 
"We are very fortunate to have found such a quality leader in Dominique who will build the foundation for women's wrestling and add value to our rich wrestling history at Cornell," Wing said. "Dominique is a high-character leader who will be a strong mentor to all of our female student-athletes on campus. Cornell Rams Athletics is excited to support Dominique in this journey." 
 
Smalley brings a wealth of credentials to Cornell's storied wrestling tradition as a distinguished competitor on the national and world stage. While competing, she claimed national championships at the cadet (1996), university (1997) and junior (1998, 2000) levels. 
 
Smalley won gold at the 2000 FILA Junior Women's World Championships at 165.25 pounds. She was a member of the U.S. Senior National Team in 1997, 1999 and 2000.
 
Smalley returns to her eastern Iowa roots, where she was introduced to the sport in middle school and then wrestled for Hall of Fame Coach Brad Smith at Iowa City High, graduating there in 1997.
 
"I think women's wrestling will open up a lot of doors and provide great opportunities for female athletes," Smalley said. "This is something that should have started a long time ago. I'm excited to build Cornell's women's program and do it the right way."
 
Smalley has taught the past 15 years in the Rankin County School District in Brandon, Miss. Her interest in the Cornell position piqued this winter when the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union officially sanctioned girls wrestling. 
 
Women's wrestling is an emerging collegiate sport with more than 110 institutions set to compete in the next two years. Iowa schools that sponsor the sport include peer NCAA Division III programs Simpson and Wartburg, Division I University of Iowa, NAIA's Grand View, Iowa Wesleyan, Waldorf and William Penn, and NJCAA's Indian Hills, Iowa Central and Iowa Western. 
 
"I have a tremendous opportunity," Smalley said. "I know what it's like to compete and look forward to providing quality coaching and training with our female student-athletes. Our prospective wrestlers don't have to be the best at this time. We'll get them there. I want to establish a winning program with hard-working athletes and teach them how to be successful in life."
 
Smalley expects to run club-level practices in 2022-23 while building her recruiting pool. She is exploring opportunities for tournament competitions next winter. "Year 1 will be a different dynamic. We want to get interested females on the mat and develop their skills."
 
Smalley wrestled one year for the women's team at the University of Minnesota Morris, then joined the men's team at Iowa State University for the 1998-99 season. Smalley was the first female wrestler in coach Bobby Douglas' program in Ames. 
 
Smalley dedicated 2000 to workouts at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. She then wrestled one year at Missouri Valley College, earning a bachelor's degree in business administration in 2002. Smalley received her master's in education from Touro University International in 2008. 
 
Smalley was volunteer wrestling coach at the Mississippi School for the Blind (2014-15), assistant karate instructor at Chatan Dojo (2012-14) and a grappling instructor for the Mixed Martial Arts Club at the Fitness Plex (2007-09). She coached cross country at Florence High School from 2017-2020.  
 
College-age women who would like to get involved with the Cornell women's wrestling program can initiate the recruiting process at CornellRams.com.