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Long-time USA Wrestling leader, legendary coach and champion wrestler Mark Reiland, 52, passed away on Wednesday
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Mark Reiland (center), with his father Marv Reiland (left) and his college coach Dan Gable (right) at the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame induction. Photo courtesy of the Reiland family.
Long-time USA Wrestling leader Mark Reiland of Iowa City, Iowa, 52, who currently was serving as First Vice-President of the organization, passed away on Wednesday.
Reiland built a legendary career within USA Wrestling and his home state of Iowa, impacting every level of the sport. He was a two-time Iowa state champion for Eagle Grove High School, won a 1991 NCAA title for the University of Iowa, and coached numerous state champion athletes and teams at Iowa City West High School.
He also made a massive impact as one of the most active leaders within USA Wrestling. He served two decades as the state chairperson for Iowa USA Wrestling, providing wrestling opportunities to athletes of all ages in his state. He is also a long-time member of USA Wrestling’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. In addition to his most recent role as First Vice-President, Reiland also served as a Second Vice-President for USA Wrestling. During his years as a volunteer leader, Reiland served on dozens of committees.
Reiland was a leader who would regularly step up and take responsibility whenever needed, volunteering a tremendous amount of his time and effort to make USA Wrestling a better organization, and to provide more quality programs for its members.
“Few people have given more time and passion to our sport and to USA Wrestling than Mark Reiland. His shoes will be nearly impossible to fill. He has made a lasting impact. Mark Reiland will be sorely missed by our entire community. We offer our condolences to the Reiland family and all of those people whose lives he influenced,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and family. Mark Reiland was a great ambassador for the sport of wrestling. He was a tireless worker at the state and national level, dedicated to making wrestling better. In his position as First Vice President, and his previous positions, Mark was invaluable to the growth and success of USA Wrestling. If you asked him to do something, he would do it and get it done right. He loved wrestling and did so much for our sport selflessly,” said USA Wrestling President Bruce Baumgartner.
“I don’t know if USA Wrestling has ever had someone more involved with our grassroots national councils and committees than Mark Reiland. During his leadership, we’ve almost doubled our size as an organization. That’s not an accident, and it’s because of Mark and people like Mark that we’re able to say that,” said USA Wrestling State Services Director Tony Black.
Iowa USA Wrestling posted the following on its Twitter site: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our leader, coach and friend, Mark Reiland. Our deepest condolences to the Reiland family and all who are mourning the loss of this special man. Thank you for everything boss man, we will miss you!”
Reiland was the 167-pound NCAA champion for Iowa in 1991 and was also fourth in the 1989 NCAA Championships, competing for legendary coach Dan Gable. He was a member of two Iowa teams which won NCAA titles (1991 and 1992).
While coaching at Iowa City West, Reiland’s teams won seven state titles, two traditional titles and five dual meet titles. He coached 16 athletes to 26 individual state titles, including many USA Wrestling All-Americans and successful college athletes. One of his Iowa City West stars, Derek St. John, went on to win an NCAA title for the University of Iowa.
He was inducted into the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016. Reiland also received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling honor from the Iowa chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2020. Reiland was named USA Wrestling Junior Person of the Year in 2010 and received the President’s Award from the organization that year for his leadership on the state level.
A private family service will be held on Thursday, December 16, 2021.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 26, 2022 from 2:00 p.m.-.6:00.p.m. at the University Heights Courtyard by Marriott .
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Reiland-Beminio Student Scholarship Fund or the Iowa Wrestling Facility Carver Circle Campaign.
Long-time USA Wrestling leader Mark Reiland of Iowa City, Iowa, 52, who currently was serving as First Vice-President of the organization, passed away on Wednesday.
Reiland built a legendary career within USA Wrestling and his home state of Iowa, impacting every level of the sport. He was a two-time Iowa state champion for Eagle Grove High School, won a 1991 NCAA title for the University of Iowa, and coached numerous state champion athletes and teams at Iowa City West High School.
He also made a massive impact as one of the most active leaders within USA Wrestling. He served two decades as the state chairperson for Iowa USA Wrestling, providing wrestling opportunities to athletes of all ages in his state. He is also a long-time member of USA Wrestling’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. In addition to his most recent role as First Vice-President, Reiland also served as a Second Vice-President for USA Wrestling. During his years as a volunteer leader, Reiland served on dozens of committees.
Reiland was a leader who would regularly step up and take responsibility whenever needed, volunteering a tremendous amount of his time and effort to make USA Wrestling a better organization, and to provide more quality programs for its members.
“Few people have given more time and passion to our sport and to USA Wrestling than Mark Reiland. His shoes will be nearly impossible to fill. He has made a lasting impact. Mark Reiland will be sorely missed by our entire community. We offer our condolences to the Reiland family and all of those people whose lives he influenced,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and family. Mark Reiland was a great ambassador for the sport of wrestling. He was a tireless worker at the state and national level, dedicated to making wrestling better. In his position as First Vice President, and his previous positions, Mark was invaluable to the growth and success of USA Wrestling. If you asked him to do something, he would do it and get it done right. He loved wrestling and did so much for our sport selflessly,” said USA Wrestling President Bruce Baumgartner.
“I don’t know if USA Wrestling has ever had someone more involved with our grassroots national councils and committees than Mark Reiland. During his leadership, we’ve almost doubled our size as an organization. That’s not an accident, and it’s because of Mark and people like Mark that we’re able to say that,” said USA Wrestling State Services Director Tony Black.
Iowa USA Wrestling posted the following on its Twitter site: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our leader, coach and friend, Mark Reiland. Our deepest condolences to the Reiland family and all who are mourning the loss of this special man. Thank you for everything boss man, we will miss you!”
Reiland was the 167-pound NCAA champion for Iowa in 1991 and was also fourth in the 1989 NCAA Championships, competing for legendary coach Dan Gable. He was a member of two Iowa teams which won NCAA titles (1991 and 1992).
While coaching at Iowa City West, Reiland’s teams won seven state titles, two traditional titles and five dual meet titles. He coached 16 athletes to 26 individual state titles, including many USA Wrestling All-Americans and successful college athletes. One of his Iowa City West stars, Derek St. John, went on to win an NCAA title for the University of Iowa.
He was inducted into the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016. Reiland also received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling honor from the Iowa chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2020. Reiland was named USA Wrestling Junior Person of the Year in 2010 and received the President’s Award from the organization that year for his leadership on the state level.
A private family service will be held on Thursday, December 16, 2021.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 26, 2022 from 2:00 p.m.-.6:00.p.m. at the University Heights Courtyard by Marriott .
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Reiland-Beminio Student Scholarship Fund or the Iowa Wrestling Facility Carver Circle Campaign.