Former St. John's University national-champion wrestler and head wrestling coach — and former Becker Bulldog student and athlete — Brandon Novak was among five individuals inducted into the Division III National Wrestling Coaches' Association (NWCA) Hall of Fame prior to the Division III national championships March 9 in La Crosse, WI.

 

The induction ceremony was held in the La Crosse Center Ballroom.

 

The funny thing is, when Novak’s name was announced at the ceremony, it wasn’t him who stepped on the stage..

 

“I wasn't available to go to it,” Brandon said. “I was represented by the current St. John's head coach and his assistant — both former wrestlers of mine. My family and I were in Colombia adopting our third child.”

 

 Novak and his wife, Heather have an adopted son from Peru, Sebastian and a daughter named Luciana. Their new child is named Maikol.

 

“This award is for my accomplishments from nearly 20 years ago,” he said. So being acknowledged for those successes by my peers in the wrestling world is a great award.” 

 

Novak says there a slight problem with getting a n award of this stature.

 

“The problem with this award though is that it reminded me of the losses I suffered over my career and how I could have been better and done a few things differently to get those wins,” he said.

 

Novak was a four-time national qualifier, three-time All-American and a 2001 national champion for the Johnnies. As a freshman, Novak placed fifth nationally at 190 pounds. After a return trip where he did not place as a sophomore, he qualified again as a junior, taking third at 197 pounds. 

 

His senior year (2000-01) was one of the best individual seasons in Johnnie wrestling history. He dominated his way to a 23-1 record, with his only loss coming to a non-Division III opponent. He earned the Carl Larson Trophy, as the most valuable wrestler at the MIAC Tournament, following a conference championship at 197 pounds and capped his illustrious career with a national title. His career winning percentage of .871 (101-15 record) is still the best in SJU history.

 

In addition to his domination on the mat, Novak was also a standout football student-athlete at SJU. He was a two-time All-American linebacker and was named the 1999 MIAC Most Valuable Player.

 

After graduation, he pursued a coaching career at SJU. He spent 10 seasons as SJU's head wrestling coach from 2004-14 and compiled an 83-73 dual record.

 

Novak coached 21 NWCA Scholar All-Americans and 16 All-Americans, including a school-record five All-Americans in 2011. Minga Batsukh '11 won three consecutive national championships from 2009-11. 

 

“I think throughout my life, I have had tremendous influences over my athletic career as well as throughout my coaching career,” Brandon said. “I always enjoyed living with a father  (Brad) who was my coach throughout high school and easily my greatest influence.” 

 

Brandon says he also loved growing up with a mother and three sisters who knew how to keep him grounded as well. 

 

“I had tremendous assistant coaches at Becker who helped mold me as a wrestler and, of course, I had outstanding teammates who pushed me everyday,” he said. “As I went off to college, I was coached by John Elton and he put together a very talented team during my years of wrestling.” 

 

Novak was fortunate to have a national champion and two All-Americans who he practiced with every day over his career. 

 

“Those individuals helped influence me as a wrestler as well,” he said.

 

Novak, a Becker 1995 graduate, stepped down as head coach in 2014 and currently serves as SJU football's co-defensive coordinator. The 2017 season will be his 18th as an assistant coach on the Johnnies' sidelines.

 

The Novaks live in St. Joseph. Brandon’s dad, Brad, is the former Bulldog head wrestling coach who coached Becker’s wrestling program for 30 years until his retirement in 2009. Doreen is Brandon’s mom.