Cael Sanderson Speaking Fee: $10,000 to $20,000

Cael Sanderson is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished figures in the history of amateur wrestling. Born on June 20, 1979, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sanderson was introduced to the sport by his father, Steve, who coached him at Wasatch High School in Heber City. Under his father's guidance, Sanderson became a four-time Utah state champion, compiling a high school record of 127–3. Sanderson's collegiate career at Iowa State University from 1999 to 2002 was nothing short of historic. He achieved an unprecedented 159-0 record, becoming the only wrestler in NCAA Division I history to go undefeated with over 100 wins. During this time, he secured four NCAA titles and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler each year—a unique accomplishment. Additionally, he earned the Dan Hodge Trophy three times, recognizing him as the nation's top collegiate wrestler. After college, Sanderson transitioned to international competition. He won a silver medal at the 2003 World Championships and culminated his competitive career with a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics in the 84 kg freestyle category, defeating South Korea's Moon Eui-jae 3-1 in the final. In 2006, Sanderson began his coaching career at Iowa State, leading the team to three consecutive Big 12 titles and top-five NCAA finishes. In 2009, he took over as head coach at Penn State University. Under his leadership, the Nittany Lions have become a dominant force in collegiate wrestling, winning 13 NCAA team championships, including a record-setting performance in 2025 with 177.0 points and 10 All-Americans. Sanderson has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year multiple times and has coached over 60 All-Americans at Penn State. Sanderson's journey from a high school standout in Utah to an Olympic champion and transformative coach at Penn State underscores his enduring impact on the sport of wrestling. His commitment to excellence and ability to inspire athletes have solidified his legacy as one of wrestling's all-time greats.