Chris Bono

Last updated
Chris Bono
Personal information
Born (1974-02-13) February 13, 1974 (age 50)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Home town Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Sport
CountryUnited States
Sport Wrestling
Event(s) Freestyle and Folkstyle
College team Iowa State Cyclones
TeamUSA
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing the Flag of the United States.svg United States
Pan American Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg1997 San Juan69 kg
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg2003 Maracaibo66 kg
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg2008 Colorado Springs66 kg
Collegiate wrestling
Representing the Iowa State Cyclones
NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1996 Minneapolis150 lb
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg1997 Cedar Falls150 lb
Chris Bono
Current position
Title Head coach
Team Wisconsin
Conference Big Ten
Record50–35 (.588)
Biographical details
Alma mater Iowa State University
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1997-2005 Iowa State University (assistant)
2005-2009 University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
2009 Iowa State University (assistant)
2012-2018 South Dakota State University
2018-present Wisconsin
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
2017 Big 12 Coach of the Year

Christopher Mark Bono (born February 13, 1974) is an American former freestyle and folkstyle wrestler. He was a three-time U.S. World team member in freestyle wrestling and an NCAA wrestling champion at Iowa State. Bono would later become a collegiate wrestling head coach, where he is the current head wrestling coach at Wisconsin.

Contents

Early life

Bono was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he started wrestling at the age of 5, following the footsteps of his older brother, Ernie. His family moved to Florida when he was in the 4th grade. In 7th grade, he made the varsity team at the The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida. He was a three-time Florida high school wrestling state champion. Bono was also a Cadet national runner-up and Junior national All-American in freestyle wrestling. [1] [2]

College career

In college, Bono was a three-time NCAA wrestling All-American and won the 1996 NCAA championship at 150-pounds at Iowa State. [3]

International career

On the senior level circuit, Bono would make three U.S. freestyle World Championship teams in 2001, 2002 and 2005 and was a four-time freestyle national champion. [4]

Coaching career

Bono became the 16th UW wrestling head coach when he was hired on March 24, 2018.

Prior to Wisconsin, Bono served as the head coach at South Dakota State and UT Chattanooga. Bono left South Dakota State with 64–41 overall record, a total of 24 NCAA qualifiers, five All-Americans and one national champion from 2012 to 2018.

At Chattanooga, he led the Mocs to three Southern Conference titles, coaching two All-Americans and 19 NCAA qualifiers from 2006 to 2009. [5]

Personal life

He has two daughters with his wife Niki. [6]

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References

  1. Chris Bono Bio. image.aausports.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  2. Christopher Mark Bono. fhsaa.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  3. Chris Bono. nwhof.org. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  4. Bono to be inducted into National Wrestling Hall of Fame – Florida. uwbadgers.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  5. Chris Bono | Wrestling Coach. uwbadgers.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  6. Frenette, Gene. "Where are they now?: Champion wrestler Chris Bono". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 2024-04-19.