Justin Schlecht is entering his 10th season as head coach of the Dickinson State University wrestling program. Appointed to the position in July 2015, Schlecht has led the Blue Hawks with passion, discipline, and a commitment to both competitive excellence and academic achievement.
In his debut season as head coach, Schlecht guided five individuals to NAIA All-American honors and led the team to a top-10 national finish, placing eighth at the 2016 NAIA National Tournament. Over the course of his tenure, he has coached seven NAIA All-Americans, mentored 12 NWCA All-Academic selections, and qualified 32 individuals for the NAIA National Tournament.
Prior to becoming head coach, Schlecht served four seasons as an assistant under longtime coach Thadd O’Donnell, helping build the foundation for continued success at DSU. Before returning to his alma mater, Schlecht was the head wrestling coach and a teacher at Belle Fourche High School in South Dakota.
As a student-athlete, Schlecht became one of the most decorated wrestlers in DSU history. The Whitewood, South Dakota native compiled a 140–22 career record with 69 pins and went 17–1 across four NAIA National Tournament appearances, recording 13 wins by fall. He won three national championships and finished third in his other appearance. Schlecht was named NWCA Wrestler of the Year in both 2007 and 2008 and was voted Outstanding Wrestler of the NAIA National Tournament in 2007.
His collegiate career was interrupted by an 18-month deployment to Iraq with the Army National Guard between 2003 and 2004. Upon returning, he resumed his wrestling career and made a historic impact on the program. He is a member of the Dickinson State Athletic Hall of Fame, the NWCA Hall of Fame, and the NAIA Hall of Fame. Schlecht still holds or shares six school wrestling records.
Schlecht earned his bachelor’s degree in art education from Dickinson State University. His wife, Meagan Schlecht, is also a DSU graduate and serves as the Technology Integrationist at Dickinson Middle School. Together, they live in Dickinson with their three children—Katy, Sophy, and Elijah—all devoted Blue Hawk wrestling supporters.
