Iowa Women's Wrestling Hires Jenna Burkert as Assistant Coach

The University of Iowa women's wrestling program has appointed Jenna Burkert as an assistant coach. Burkert steps into the role previously held by Tonya Verbeek, who recently accepted a position with USA Wrestling as a women’s freestyle assistant and resident coach. Burkert brings a distinguished competitive resume to the Hawkeyes, highlighted by a bronze medal at the 2021 World Championships and status as a four-time World Team member. She was also the runner-up at the 2021 Olympic Trials in the 57-kilogram weight class and served as a soldier-athlete in the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program from 2015 to 2024, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant. Prior to joining Iowa, Burkert built her coaching career at Bixby High School in Oklahoma. Starting as an associate head coach in 2024, she was promoted to head coach, leading the nationally ranked No. 2 team and mentoring six individual state champions. Her final competitive appearance as an athlete was at the 2022 World Cup in Coralville, Iowa. This hire strengthens Iowa's coaching staff with a blend of elite international competition experience and recent successful high-level coaching achievements.