From dusty mats in Indiana to training centers in Mongolia, Brazil, Serbia, and beyond, Coach Danny Struck has spent over 30 years chasing more than medals — he's chased meaning. In Climbing for Gold, Struck shares unforgettable stories from a life built on wrestling and shaped by travel, mentorship, and a relentless drive to make a difference.
This isn't just a book about sports. It's about broken bones and broken barriers, hallway heart-to-hearts and long-haul flights, life-changing losses and the laughter in between. With grit, gratitude, and gut-punch honesty, Struck shows how the grind can lead to gold — if you're willing to keep climbing.
Whether you're a coach, athlete, teacher, or dream-chaser, this book will remind you: the climb is the reward.
Danny Struck is a nationally recognized wrestling coach, educator, and international team leader with decades of experience developing champions on and off the mat. A graduate of the University of Indianapolis, Struck has coached world teams, mentored thousands of student-athletes, and shared his love of sport across six continents
He has earned 30 local, state, and national Coach of the Year awards, been inducted into three Hall of Fames, led teams to 12 sectional titles, and represented the United States, as a coach, at five Pan American Games and three World Championships.
Struck currently teaches and coaches wrestling and football at Jeffersonville High School in Indiana, where he leads the Jeff Sports Performance program, as a strength coach, and continues to live out his belief that "strength transcends sport".
