University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2026
- Class:
- 1963
One of the State College of Iowa's (SCI) most decorated wrestlers, Jim Sanford was among the Panthers' top competitors in their Division II (college division) era.
A Fort Dodge, Iowa native and two-time high school state runner-up, Sanford wrestled for SCI in the early 1960s under Hall of Fame coach Bill Koll. Capturing three North Central Conference championships for the Panthers, he also won two Midwest AAU titles.Â
Sanford rounded out his career in style in 1963 with an NCAA Division II title at 147 pounds with the national tournament being hosted by SCI inside the historic West Gym. One of six Panther All-Americans that season, SCI finished third at the NCAA Championships. Sanford became the second Division II national champion in program history, as well as the team's 22nd overall NCAA champion.
Following his collegiate career, Sanford coached wrestling at Logan Junior High School in Waterloo before later becoming the head wrestling coach at Elkader Central High School, where he won two Upper Iowa Conference titles during a three year stint from 1964 to 1977.
After earning his master's degree from the University of Colorado in 1969, Sanford returned to coaching out west at Adams City High School in Colorado, helping the Eagles to three conference team championships, as well as a state title in 1977. The 1977 Colorado High School Wrestling Coach of the Year, Sanford moved north to Ft.Collins and coached at Rocky Mountain High School from 1977 to 1983, and again from 1995 to 1999. Two of his RMHS wrestlers went on to coach state championship teams of their own. Sanford also spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Colorado State University (1983-85).
Since leaving the coaching ranks, he spent several years officiating high school and college wrestling competitions, notably working the first United States Wrestling Federation's Junior National Tournament in Colorado. Sanford was honored with the Lifetime Service To Wrestling Award in 2013 by the Colorado Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Sanford today resides in Colorado.
