Joe Rau returned to Northwestern wrestling as assistant wrestling coach in December 2024. He previously served as a volunteer assistant during the 2021-22 season and an assistant coach during the 2022-23 campaign.
One of the highlights of Rau's successful first stint with the Wildcats was the development of heavyweight Lucas Davison, who secured All-American honors in 2022 and 2023. Under Rau's tutelage, Davison wrestled to a fifth-place finish at 285 lbs at the 2023 NCAA Championships - the highest finish by a Northwestern heavyweight in the event in nearly a decade.
As a specialist in Greco-Roman Style, Rau also brings to the 'Cats an impressive professional resumé that includes two US Open championships (2016, 2019). After winning gold at the 2020 Pan Am Olympic qualifier and 2020 Pan Am Olympic championships, the Chicago native earned a spot on the 2020 US Olympic team. He returned to the world stage in the Paris Olympics in 2024, where he once again competed in Greco-Roman.
One of the most accomplished wrestlers in Elmhurst College history, Rau capped off a record-setting collegiate career of his own with a DIII National Championship at 184 lbs. A three-time All-American with the Bluejays, he was named CCIW's Most Outstanding Wrestler in 2013 following his fourth straight conference championship. Rau's .846 career winning percentage remains the highest by a wrestler in Elmhurst program history.
One of the highlights of Rau's successful first stint with the Wildcats was the development of heavyweight Lucas Davison, who secured All-American honors in 2022 and 2023. Under Rau's tutelage, Davison wrestled to a fifth-place finish at 285 lbs at the 2023 NCAA Championships - the highest finish by a Northwestern heavyweight in the event in nearly a decade.
As a specialist in Greco-Roman Style, Rau also brings to the 'Cats an impressive professional resumé that includes two US Open championships (2016, 2019). After winning gold at the 2020 Pan Am Olympic qualifier and 2020 Pan Am Olympic championships, the Chicago native earned a spot on the 2020 US Olympic team. He returned to the world stage in the Paris Olympics in 2024, where he once again competed in Greco-Roman.
One of the most accomplished wrestlers in Elmhurst College history, Rau capped off a record-setting collegiate career of his own with a DIII National Championship at 184 lbs. A three-time All-American with the Bluejays, he was named CCIW's Most Outstanding Wrestler in 2013 following his fourth straight conference championship. Rau's .846 career winning percentage remains the highest by a wrestler in Elmhurst program history.