Assistant Coach
Jason McFarlane brings a lifelong connection to wrestling, formal coaching certification, and more than a decade of Youth and High School coaching experience to Chain Wrestling Academy.
Originally from Waterloo, Iowa, Jason began wrestling in third grade with the Wahawk Wrestling Club at West Waterloo High School. He developed under National Wrestling Hall of Fame coaches Marty Dickey and Jerry Springer, building a strong technical foundation and an appreciation for the discipline, preparation, and work ethic required to succeed in wrestling.
Jason continued his competitive career under Head Coach, and mentor, Jeff Gard at Janesville High School, where he finished his senior season with a 32-5 record and qualified for the Iowa State Wrestling Tournament. Earlier in his career, he earned a third-place finish at the 1987 Iowa State Freestyle Tournament, advancing with multiple pins before a semifinal bout against Jeff Thiler, who would go on to become a three-time Iowa state champion and Arizona All-American.
In 1995, Jason earned his Athletic Coaching Certification through the University of Northern Iowa, establishing a formal foundation for his coaching career.
Since then, Jason has spent years working with wrestlers at both the youth and high school levels in both Iowa and Florida. His coaching experience includes:
Jason has also continued to expand his coaching experience through opportunities to work alongside accomplished coaches and wrestlers. In 2015, he coached at a wrestling camp in Christiansburg, Virginia, alongside National Champion Daryl Webber, a fellow Wahawk Wrestling Club teammate. In 2016, he coached at the Wrestling Hall of Fame Wrestling Camp alongside Olympic gold medalist Dan Gable, and fellow Wahawk teammate Tolly Thompson, both members of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
This combination of personal wrestling experience, formal coaching preparation, and years spent working with young athletes gives Jason a broad perspective on what wrestlers need at different stages of development.
Our Standard & Coaching Philosophy
“We believe wrestling builds better people first—and better wrestlers because of it.”
Jason believes wrestling should give young athletes more than technical ability. It should teach them how to work, respond to adversity, take responsibility, and believe in themselves.
At Chain Wrestling Academy, Jason is committed to creating a positive, demanding, and supportive environment where athletes can develop their skills, build confidence through hard work, and learn lessons that stay with them long after they leave the mat.
Whether an athlete is stepping onto the mat for the first time or working toward high-level competition, Jason’s goal is the same: help each wrestler become a better athlete, a stronger competitor, and a better person.
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