Fran McCann is one of the most successful wrestling coaches in Indiana State history.
McCann served as the wrestling coach at Indiana State University from 1977 to 1984. The Sycamores posted a 71-45-1 record during his eight years at the school with Indiana State posting a single season record 15-2 mark and their highest finish at the NCAA Championships (seventh) during the 1982 campaign. His teams also finished second at the Midwest Regional twice.
He coached several All-Americans at Indiana State including three-time All-American Bruce Baumgartner who won the National Championship in 1982 and finished second in 1980 and 1981. He also coached two-time All-American Bob Dickman who was seventh in 1982 and third in 1983 and recruited Jack Effner who earned All-American honors twice, placing sixth in 1985 and fifth in 1986.
McCann was a four-time qualifier for the Illinois high school state tournament and a four-time Chicago city wrestling champions. His collegiate career began at Oklahoma State which was the top collegiate wrestling program at that time where he placed second in the Big Eight conference tournament. He later transferred to the University of Iowa before his junior season to be closer to home and earned All-American honors in the 115 pound class with a fourth place finish in the 1962 NCAA Championship.
He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State University where he earned his Bachelor's Degree. He later earned his Master's from St. Cloud State in Minnesota and then accepted the head coaching job at Winona State University. His teams posted a 50-20 record during his eight seasons (1968-1976) including a 15-0-1 mark in 1970. He was named the NAIA National Wrestling Coach of the Year after leading Winona State to third place at the NAIA Championships.
After leaving Indiana State, McCann coached at the University of Notre Dame where the Irish were 50-53-1 from 1984 until 1993 when the sport was suspended. He is currently an instructor in Physical Education and Wellness at the University of Notre Dame.
McCann was inducted into the NAIA Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1986, the Indiana Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1990, the Winona State University Hall of Fame in 2007, and received a Lifetime of Service Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2007.
He is fifth member of the Indiana State wrestling team to be inducted into the ISU Athletics Hall of Fame and joins Jack Effner as a member of the 2011 Class. Past inductees include: Bruce Baumgartner (1998), Bob Ferraro (2004), and Doug Reifsteck (2006).
