Ruben Chavez serves as the Head Coach of Women’s Wrestling at Wesleyan College, bringing more than 21 years of coaching experience across youth, high school, club, collegiate, and national levels. A respected leader and proven program builder, Chavez is committed to developing champions on and off the mat while establishing values-driven, high standards rooted in integrity and accountability for Wesleyan Women’s Wrestling.
Before his collegiate career, Chavez was a three-time Iowa High School State Qualifier, earning 5th- and 3rd-place finishes at the Iowa High School State Tournament. He was recruited to the University of Iowa not only for his competitive ability, but for his work ethic, discipline, and academic achievement, traits that continue to define his approach as a coach.
Chavez wrestled collegiately at the University of Iowa from 2003–2006, training within one of the most successful programs in NCAA history. During his time with the Hawkeyes, the team finished 2nd, 5th, and 4th at the NCAA Division I National Championships, and Chavez trained daily alongside NCAA champions, World Team members, and Olympic athletes. He later continued his development as a member of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club, where he trained with and alongside World and Olympic medalists while also helping develop collegiate national All-Americans, Champions, and Three National Titles in a row!(2008, 2009, 2010). These experiences played a pivotal role in shaping his coaching philosophy and understanding of elite, high-performance training environments.
As a coach, Chavez has worked at every level of the sport, including youth programs, private and open clubs, junior high, high school, and collegiate wrestling in Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, Georgia, and Texas. During his tenure as a high school and club coach, he has coached and developed more than 200+ state qualifiers, 100+ state placers, and 25+ state champions. In addition, Chavez has helped develop 20+ men’s and women’s collegiate All-Americans, including athletes who achieved success at the U20, U23, and Senior levels, as well as World medalists and champions, during and following his time with the Hawkeye Wrestling Club.
Chavez has also served on the Team Texas USA Wrestling coaching staff for both boys’ and women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. He holds USA Wrestling Copper, Bronze, Teal, and Silver certifications and is a USA Wrestling High Performance Leader.
At the national level, Chavez has earned multiple opportunities to work with USA Wrestling’s National/World Team women’s programs. In December 2025, he was selected as a Visiting Coach for Team USA Wrestling, joining the United States Women’s National Team staff for a two-week international training camp alongside the Ukrainian Women’s Wrestling Federation in Iowa City and Coralville, Iowa. The camp featured world-, Olympic-, and European-level athletes and included an international USA vs. Ukraine dual meet.
In January 2026, Chavez also served on the coaching staff for the USA Wrestling Women’s Freestyle National Team Training Camp held at the United States Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The camp ran from January 11–21 and featured athletes and coaches from both the United States and the Canadian National Team. While onsite, Chavez participated in integrated high-performance programming that included sports nutrition, strength and conditioning, and sports psychology training.
Continuing his involvement at the highest levels of the sport, Chavez will serve as one of only four onsite coaches at the USA Wrestling Women’s Freestyle National Team International Training Camp in March. The camp will include international athletes from Turkey, Canada, Ecuador, and Sweden, further reinforcing Chavez’s role within USA Wrestling’s national and international development pathway.
At Wesleyan College, Chavez is building the women’s wrestling program with a clear purpose and long-term vision. The program is rooted in the core values of gratitude, discipline, integrity, and edification, with an emphasis on accountability, personal growth, and competitive excellence. Chavez believes coaching extends far beyond technique and competition and is deeply committed to mentoring student-athletes holistically—supporting academic success, leadership development, and life skills alongside athletic achievement.
“We will create and run a program that is built on individual development. We don’t need to recruit the highest ranked women, our staff and program will help you become a better wrestler. Our team culture, standards, and support, will help you become a better individual and person! Come Make History With Us!”
Chavez holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Iowa and a Master of Business Administration. His diverse professional background and passion for mentorship help shape a program designed to prepare women not only for success in wrestling, but for meaningful and impactful lives beyond the sport.
