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When Jeremy Spates joined SIUE wrestling as the program’s head coach before the 2013-14 season, his aim was the “Restore the Glory.” While the Cougars’ mission is on-going, Spates has steered SIUE wrestling toward that goal.
Spates and the Cougars recorded their first .500 or better dual meet record in 2023-24 with a 6-6 mark. The last time SIUE was .500 or better was the 1991-92 season under Hall of Fame Head Coach Larry Kristoff.
The Cougars have had 22 NCAA Division I Tournament qualifiers under Spates, including Caleb Tyus who made his second appearance in 2024.
During the 2016-17 season, Jake Residori became the first Division I All-American since Tim Wright in 1987. The 174-pounder placed eighth at the Division I Championships at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
SIUE wrestling has made strides at the conference level as members of the Southern Conference from 2013 to 2018 followed by the Mid-American Conference from 2019 to the present.
Spates came to SIUE after nine seasons as one of the nation’s premier assistant coaches. With an impressive track record of performance as both a coach and a student-athlete, he spent four seasons as an assistant at Cornell University, helping Head Coach Rob Koll and the Big Red to a fifth-place finish at the 2013 NCAA Championships. He also spent five seasons as an assistant coach under his father, Jack Spates, at the University of Oklahoma.
Spates was a 2004 NCAA All-American as a student-athlete at the University of Missouri. He was a three-time team captain under Head Coach Brian Smith. Spates competed at the 2004 National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star meet in Cedar Falls, Iowa, winning his 149-pound match. He was the 10th wrestler in Missouri history to record more than 100 victories.
His coaching career has included six top five team finishes in nine years as an assistant, including two runner-up finishes for Cornell in 2010 and 2011. The Cornell recruiting class was ranked No. 1 in the nation in 2011. Spates has helped oversee seven individual NCAA Division I champions and 28 NCAA Division I All-Americans.
He was a major influence on the development of four-time national champion Kyle Dake, of Cornell, who became the nation's first wrestler in 2013 to win NCAA titles in four different weight classes. Dake was named Sports Illustrated Male College Athlete of the Year.
Spates has been involved at the ground level of collegiate wrestling whether it has been recruiting, running camps, developing individual training sessions, or fundraising.
What Others Are Saying About Head Coach Jeremy Spates:
Rob Koll, Head Coach, Cornell University
"It's great to have someone who looks at it that no job is too big or too small. He's the kind of guy who rolls up his sleeves and gets in. He was in there every day working with Kyle (Dake) technically, physically, and emotionally. He's been around success his entire life. He has had a very broad scope of programs, and because of that he has an extremely large skill set."
Kyle Dake, 2013 Sports Illustrated Male College Athlete of the Year, Cornell University
"Coach has been one of the most important people to me for the last four years. He's been a great mentor not just in wrestling but as a person as well. I'm really proud of him. He's put in a lot of time and deserves something great. The head coaching job is the next logical step. I'm really excited for him and hope he does some pretty amazing things."
Mike Moyer, Executive Director, National Wrestling Coaches Association
"Jeremy is one of the bright young stars in the coaching ranks. He was a very accomplished wrestler and mentored under one of the best coaches we have in Rob Koll. He also spent some time with Brian Smith at Missouri who is another one of our top coaches. Between his dad, the coaches he has wrestled for, and the coaches he has coached under, they are among the best we have in the nation. He has a very, very bright future. It's a terrific hire for SIUE."
Brian Smith, Head Coach, University of Missouri
"He was a three-year captain for me and an amazing leader during my first recruiting class at Missouri. It was like having an extra coach in the program. He came up with the phrase 'Tiger Style' that is the philosophy of our program. He's an unbelievable young man who has a great career ahead of him."
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