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Ottawa University

Colby Crank

Colby Crank

  • Crank is in his seventh season has head coach of the OU men's wrestling program.
  • He has led the Braves to a dual record of 69-13.
  • Crank has led the Braves to Six KCAC regular season championships and Five KCAC Tournament Championships.
  • In his previous six seasons, Crank has coached Five NAIA All-Americans, 26 KCAC Individual Champions, Two KCAC Wrestlers of the Year, One Gregorian Award winner, and 70 All-KCAC performers.
Before coming to OU, Crank was an assistant coach with the men’s wrestling program at Barton Community College in Great Bend, Kan. He made a quick and immediate impact as he helped the Cougars improve from a ranking of 24th to a final ranking of 9th in the NJCAA National Rankings. Additionally, he helped lead the Cougars to a top five finish at national duals, coached nine national qualifiers and three NJCAA All-Americans, including no. 1 Kade Sander in the 157 pound weight class. Sander was the first national champion in BCC program history.

Prior to coaching at BCC, Crank was an assistant coach at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan. Crank helped the Wildcats to a top four finish at national duals, coached six NAIA national qualifiers and two NAIA All-Americans. 

A highly accomplished wrestler, Crank was a four-time NAIA All-American and a two-time national finalist. In his collegiate career, Crank had more than 100 wins and was named to the NWCA All-Academic Team four-times. He was a three-time NAIA All-American at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kan., where he was the first NAIA men’s wrestling All-American and national finalist in program history. Crank attended Baker University his senior season and was a 2016 NAIA National Champion in the 157 pound weight class. He defeated No. 2 ranked Grant Henderson of Grand View University in the national championship match with a 4-3 decision. Crank was named KWCA Senior College Wrestler of the Year. He graduated from Baker University with a double major in business management and psychology and was a four-time academic All-American and two-time academic national finalist. 

Crank is a native of Hutchinson, Kan., where he was a three-time Kansas State Tournament wrestling medal winner. Twice, he was a finalist at the state tournament and won the state championship as a senior.