General | 4/17/2025 10:53:00 AM

WAVERLY, Iowa—After a couple years hiatus, the John Kurtt Alumni Coach of the Year award has returned with Jeff Voss '89 as the 2024 recipient.

Voss was a two-time NCAA Division III national qualifier in men's wrestling and earned All-American honors (sixth-place finish) at 167 lbs. in 1989.

He began his coaching career in 1989 as an assistant at Nashua-Plainfield and moved to West Delaware from 1990-1994. Voss was Monticello's head coach in 1995 before returning to West Delaware in 1996 for the next 29 years. He retired from coaching in 2024.

"I remember Coach Kurtt was coaching baseball during the time I was at Wartburg," said Voss. "He would always be at our home wrestling meets and every time I saw him at the athletic complex he would take the time to stop, see how things were going and give an encouraging word."

Voss was selected as the Iowa Wrestling Coaches & Officials Association (IWCOA) coach of the year in 3A in 2007, 2A in 2013 and 2019. He was a national finalist coach with the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) in 2013, and NHSACA in 2022. He was the Bob Siddens coach of the year in 2013. He was awarded the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award for the Iowa chapter in 2024. His career dual meet coaching record was 507-137-1. 

Voss' West Delaware teams made 13 Iowa state dual meet appearances and were champions in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, and finished as the runners-up in 2003, 2012, 2013 and 2023. His teams won the traditional state tournament in 2013, 2019 and 2021. Jeff has coached 167 State Qualifiers, 12 State Champions, and 83 WaMac Conference Champions. His teams won 21 WaMac Conference dual meet titles and 16 WaMac Conference team titles.

"I knew I wanted to coach early in my time at Wartburg," said Voss. "Coach Dick Walker and Coach Al Frost had a big influence in my life while at Wartburg. I was hoping to have the same influence on kids and coaching wrestling was a way for me to do that."

Voss has served in leadership positions in the IWCOA as president, vice president, secretary/treasurer and on the advisory board, as well as board of directors for the NWCA and an NWCA Iowa Scholastic Representative. 

He is a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and taught science, health and physical education for 34 years. He and his wife Janette (Jurgensen) Voss '89 have four children, Jennie, Jake, JoAnne and Jared.

When asked what he took with him during his time at Wartburg into his career, he responded, "I took with me a great piece of advice from Coach Dick Walker: 'Wherever you go and whatever you do, surround yourself with good people.' I have been fortunate to be surrounded by great people throughout my whole coaching career. We all had a vision of creating a culture that encourages kids to be their very best, whatever their best is and have them believe that they are part of something bigger than themselves."

When asked his favorite Wartburg memory, Voss said, "My May term canoeing class.  My roommate Jeff Frost and I tipped a canoe over another in the Shell Rock River.  The person we tipped in the river ended up being my future wife Janette Jurgenson Voss. I have many great memories with friends that are still in my life today!"

He will be presented with his plaque at the first home men's wrestling dual this fall.

PAST RECIPIENTS
2018 - Tiffany Pins 2017- Jared Pirkl 2016- Matt Entz 2015- Jerry Albert 2014- Patrick Hennes 2013- Renae Hartl 2012- Nick Mitchell 2011 - Bob Nielson 2010 - Corey Carlson 2009 - Marty Thomae 2008 - Rick Brooks 2007 - Kori Stoffregen 2006 - Doug Hall 2004-05 - Cindy Suess 2003 - Tom Lilly 2002 - Ross Grafft 2001 - Jack Denholm 2000 - Bob Mudd	1999- Dick Basham 1998 - Stu Fritz 1997 - Bob Bunting 1996 - Don Oleson 1995 - Bob Nielson 1994 - Larry Croghan 1993 - John Kurtt 1992 - Bret Hoyer 1991 - Dave Arns 1990 - Tom Manchester 1989 - Scott Brees 1988 - Mark Guthrie/Diane Paynter 1987 - Tom Schleicher 1986 - Gerald Heying 1985 - Larry Moklestad 1984 - Bill Nelson 1983 - Roger Buchholz 1982 - Bob Bye 1981 - Reece Morgan 1980 - Jim Arjes	1978 - Larry Strom/Jim Hotz/Steve Kohn 1977 - Larry Niemann 1976 - Virg Erickson 1975 - Roger Zehr 1974 - Waldo Platte 1973 - Merlyn Thorsen 1972 - Roger Kittleson 1971 - Jim Borcherding 1970 - Don Riggenberg 1969 - Chuck Nichol 1968 - Eldon Ott 1967 - Stan Kittleson 1966 - Paul Bruns 1965 - Roger Klingman 1964 - John Kurtt 1963 - Arnold Brandt 1962 - Maynard Midtgaard