Dan Gable redefined the term wrestling champion, setting a new standard of excellence for athletes and coaches. Defeated only once throughout his high school and college wrestling careers and unscored upon in his 1972 Olympic gold medal performance, Gable didn't just win on the mat, he dominated his opponents in a relentless, physical style.

Gable brought that same competitive toughness and determination to mastering coaching-and the championships came, year after year. In the 21 seasons he was head coach, his University of Iowa teams won 15 national championships and 21 Big Ten...