A member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Zalesky brings a track record of success to Cal Poly Humboldt after most recently serving as the head coach at the University of Jamestown (2021-2024).
"I of course am really looking forward to coaching with my brother Jim," stated head coach Lennie Zalesky. "Not only does he have an incredible amount of experience and success as a wrestling coach, but we came from the same system both in high school and in college, and our coaching styles and techniques are incredibly compatible. I honestly can't think of someone I would rather coach with in all respects other than Jim."
"I look forward to coaching with my brother Lennie at Cal Poly Humboldt," said Jim Zalesky. "Together, it should be a lot of fun resurrecting the wrestling program, working with the California coaches and meeting the former wrestlers. There is a tremendously rich wrestling culture in California which makes this endeavor very interesting and exciting."
Zalesky, a native of Shueyville, Iowa, has enjoyed incredible success as a student-athlete and coach.
In his 23 years as an NCAA Division I head coach, Zalesky won three NCAA Division I national championships, 13 conference championships, compiled a 274-109-2 dual match record and coached over 50 All-American wrestlers.
As the head coach at Iowa (1997-2006), he led the Hawkeyes to the NCAA title in 1998, 1999 and 2000 and was national runner-up in 2001 and 2004. He was named the National Coach of the Year in 1998 and 1999 and the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2004. Zalesky coached 10 NCAA champions, 20 Big Ten champions, 45 All-Americans and two Olympians during his time as head coach at Iowa.
During his 14 years as head coach at Oregon State (2006-2020), Zalesky captured seven Pac-12 wrestling titles and finished in the top-25 at the NCAA Tournament six times including an eighth place finish in 2013. He was named the conference Coach of the Year in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Zalesky coached 14 All-Americans, 33 conference champions, 79 NCAA Tournament qualifiers and two Olympians while in Corvallis.
Prior to becoming the head coach at Iowa, Zalesky served as an assistant coach at Minnesota and Iowa. During his time at Iowa, he was an assistant under Dan Gable and helped lead the Hawkeyes to six NCAA championships and seven Big Ten titles before taking over as head coach in 1997.
Zalesky was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1994 and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003.
As a high school wrestler at Cedar Rapids Prairie High School, he compiled a 99-12 record and was a two-time state champion.
As a collegiate wrestler at the University of Iowa, Zalesky was a three-time NCAA individual champion for legendary coach Dan Gable. He posted a record of 131-7 and was named the Outstanding Wrestler at the 1984 NCAA Tournament. He was a four-time All-American (1981-84) and three-time Big Ten Champion (1982-84). He finished his collegiate career with 89 consecutive wins, still a record at Iowa.
Zalesky earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa.
Jim and his wife Teri are the parents of four children - Nicolette, Jaclyn, Zackery, and Lucas.
