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Bill Zadick selected as USA Wrestling's men's freestyle coach over Kenny Monday

The 1988 freestyle gold medalist at 74 kg and 1984 NCAA champion at 150 pounds for Oklahoma State was one of three finalists for the job.

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USA Wrestling named assistant national freestyle coach Bill Zadick its next head freestyle coach over Oklahoma State great Kenny Monday and Lou Roselli, USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender announced on FloWrestling Radio Live on Wednesday.

Zadick replaces Bruce Burnett, who took over the position in spring 2014 when Zeke Jones stepped down to take the head coaching job at Arizona State.

"To be named USA Wrestling's Freestyle National Coach is a great honor. It is humbling, and I feel a tremendous responsibility to the United States and to USA Wrestling and to the athletes. I love freestyle wrestling. I cut my teeth in freestyle as a young kid, coming up through the developmental ranks. It has always been a huge passion for me. It is an important component to the American wrestling system. I am a patriot. I love red, white and blue and I want us to be the best wrestling nation in the world," said Zadick in a news release.

Zadick has served as USA Wrestling's freestyle team's resident coordinator and assistant freestyle coach since 2009. He won a NCAA title in 1996 at Iowa and was a two-time All-American under Dan Gable. He posted a 87-13 record with 16 pins. After his collegiate career, Zadick was a three-time U.S. Nationals runner-up (2003, 2006, 2008) and a two-time World Team Trials runner-up (1999 and 2002). He won the 2006 World Championship at 66 kg and the bronze medal at the 2007 Pan American Championships.

Monday was a three-time Olympian, winning gold in 1988 at 74 kg before taking silver in 1992 and sixth in 1996. He was also a three-time All-American at OSU, winning the 1984 NCAA champion at 150 pounds.

His notable coaching experience includes being the wrestling coach for Blackzilians, a mixed martial arts camp based in Bacon Raton, Fla. and on staff at OSU.

He is widely considered the greatest Oklahoma prep wrestler in history. He won four state titles and the 1977 Junior National championship. He never lost and finished with a 140-0-1 record at Booker T. Washington in Tulsa.