Brent Hamm was named head coach of Cornell College’s storied wrestling program on April 9, 2019.
A 2015 Cornell graduate and Iowa City native, Hamm has been a vital part of Cornell’s wrestling program since 2012. He was a four-year starter and two-time NCAA qualifier under the late Hall of Fame Coach Mike Duroe. Hamm spent three seasons in the coaching corner with Duroe before taking on head interim duties during the 2018-19 campaign.
Hamm guided the 2024-25 Rams to an impressive 14-5 dual record, marking the second-most wins in program history. The team claimed nine placewinners at the Region VI Championships and finished No. 13 in the national dual rankings.
Hamm's 2023-24 Rams scored a program-record 107.5 points at the Lower Midwest Region Championships. Cornell's fifth-place regional showing was its highest finish since 2016. The Rams landed eight regional placewinners, two NCAA qualifiers and crowned its first NCAA All-American since 2018.
In 2022-23, Hamm led Cornell to a 9-3 dual record and sixth-place showing at regionals. The Rams claimed six regional placewinners, highlighted by one NCAA qualifier.
Hamm guided the 2020-21 Rams to a strong performance at the NWCA Championships, crowning a pair of all-Americans in Killian Perrigon (fifth at 157 pounds) and Casey Allen (fifth at 165). That team finished 5-2 in dual competition.
The Rams have fielded 35 NWCA Scholar All-Americans and 35 regional placewinners with Hamm as head coach. The Rams were named an NWCA All-Academic Team in 2018-19.
Hamm was the team’s lead assistant for the 2017-18 season, when the Rams crowned three all-Americans and placed 17th at the NCAA Division III Championships.
Hamm received a strong endorsement from former Cornell coach Steve DeVries, a Hall of Famer who won 130 duals and 10 Midwest Conference championships with the Rams from 1982-2000. DeVries was a part-time assistant on the 2018-19 staff.
“I’m happy to see Brent is going to be staying with us,” DeVries said. “He is a real student of wrestling and continues to learn about the sport. He takes it very seriously, has strong self-discipline and a great work ethic.
“For as young as he is, Brent has a good handle for discipline and communicating expectations to student-athletes. Brent’s had more put on his plate than is typical for a young coach and he’s responded very well.”
As a wrestler on the Hilltop, Hamm recorded 90 victories from 2011-15. The two-time team captain qualified for the NCAA Championships at 174 pounds in 2014 and 2015. A four-time regional placewinner, Hamm captured the Central Region title in 2015.
Hamm also excelled in the class room, earning three NWCA Scholar All-America awards as a student-athlete. A member of the Dean’s List, Hamm received team Most Dedicated, Most Improved and Most Valuable awards. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Cornell in exercise science.
Hamm was head coach of Lisbon Matpack Wrestling Club from 2015-17.
