Mike Duroe, Head Coach (third season)

Duroe, head coach of the 2005 and ’06 U.S. Freestyle World Team and head coach of the University of Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling Club from 2003-05, begins his third season as head wrestling coach at Cornell College. In 2006 the U.S. team finished third in the world with four medalists.

In his first season at Cornell, Duroe’ s squad won a school-record 15 dual meets and the Rams qualified two wrestlers for nationals with one All-American.

Duroe, a native of Charles City, has been head coach at Northern Michigan University, an assistant at the University of Pennsylvania and head coach of the Northwestern University Wildcat Wrestling Club. He was a member of the coaching staff for the Pan American Games (2003) and the Olympic Games (1996, 2000 and 2004).

At Northern Michigan from 1980-85, Duroe compiled a record of 82-27 with 23 All-Americans and two NCAA champions. For two years he was in charge of the Northwestern Wildcat Wrestling Club before leading New Trier ( Ill.) High School from 1986-98. From 1998-2001 Duroe was national resident coach at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. He was the head assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania from 2001-03 before joining the Hawkeye Wrestling Club in 2003.

Duroe graduated from Drake University in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in education.


Mike Elliott, Assistant Coach (fifth season)

Elliott begins his fifth season as a Cornell assistant coach after completing his degree in communications at Luther College. He was a two-time All-Iowa Conference wrestler for the Norse and placed twice at the Iowa State High School Tournament when he competed for Mount Vernon (Iowa). He is second in all-time wins at Mount Vernon with 143.

Elliott works predominately with Cornell's lighter weights and also plays an active role in recruiting student-athletes. In addition to his coaching duties, he manages and co-owns Elliott's Uptown Fitness Center and operates Discount Storage.

Joe Johnston, Assistant Coach (second season)

Johnston, a two-time All-American and winner of 113 matches at the University of Iowa, begins his second season as assistant coach at Cornell.

Johnston is from Prairie Village, Kan., and a 2001 graduate of Shawnee Mission East High School, where he was a four-time letterwinner in wrestling, compiling a record of 160-12 with 92 falls. He placed sixth and runner-up at the state wrestling tournament before posting back-to-back state championships in 2000 and ’01. Johnston earned four letters at 157 pounds at Iowa and posted at least 27 varsity victories in all four seasons. He owned a 113-45 career record and placed twice at the national championship — second in 2005 and sixth last season.

Johnston received a bachelor’s degree in art in 2006.

Andrew Knaack, Assistant Coach (third season)

Knaack begins his third season as assistant coach at Cornell after a distinguished prep and collegiate wrestling career. He graduated in 2001 from North Tama (Iowa) High School in Traer, where he was a two-time state qualifier for Gladbrook-Reinbeck North Tama (GRNT). He owns a high school record of 116-12 with a school-record 66 pins. Knaack placed fifth in Class 2A at 140 pounds in 2000.

A four-year letterwinner for Wartburg College, Knaack was a two-time NCAA national qualifier at 165 pounds. The Knights captured two national team titles and were runner-up twice. Knaack placed fourth in the Iowa Conference as a junior and third as a senior. He graduated in 2005 with a degree in fitness management.

Knaack, who resides in Clutier, is also the assistant football coach for Green Mountain Garwin.