Upper Iowa University Athletics

Mike McCready was inducted into the Upper Iowa University Athletic Hall of Fame posthumously in the coaching category. He passed away suddenly on December 16, 1999.

As the Head Wrestling coach at Upper Iowa University for 15 years, McCready had four individual NCAA Division III National Champions and 17 wreslters were named NCAA All-Americans, including four Scholar All-Americans. He coached and tutored seven Iowa Conference Champions during his time at UIU while posting an impressive 252-237-6 overall record. In 1999, his team ranked 20th in the nation at the time of his death. He was also responsible for Upper Iowa hosting the Division III National Wrestling Tournament in Waterloo in 1998.

McCready served the University with distinction and honor, always doing what was best for the institution and the Upper Iowa student-athlete, female or male. He was an Instructor in the Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Education departments. During his tenure, he also coached football and cross country, along with serving as the Athletic Director from 1986 to 1995.

After graduating from Dubuque Senior High School in 1968, McCready attended the University of Northern Iowa where he became the only UNI athlete to receive All-American recognition in two different sports, wrestling and track. He was a two-time NCAA College Division heavyweight champion in wrestling, and he earned All-American status in the discus and shot put. He won nine U.S. Wrestling Championships and five AAU National Championships.

McCready is a member of five Halls of Fame: Dubuque Senior High School, UNI Division II NCAA as an athlete, Division III NCAA as a coach, along with the State of Iowa wrestling organization.

His wife Julie, a 1990 graduate of Upper Iowa, and daughter Jennifer, a 2002 graduate of UIU, and sons Dan and Ben live in rural Elgin, Iowa.