By Mike Finn, W.I.N. Editor

Ben Askren doesn’t have a title for it, nor does he know when it will be published but the Missouri senior is currently working on a book on the mental aspect of wrestling.

And considering the two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner also was named the winner of the Schalles Award — named after former Clarion national champion Wade Schalles — as college wrestler’s most dominant pinner for a second consecutive year, there aren’t many people more authoritative than the native of Hartland, Wisc.

In his four years at Missouri, Askren became the school’s first NCAA champion when he appeared in four consecutive NCAA finals and won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007 while dominating his opponents like few have seen since Schalles dominated college wrestling in the 1970s when the two-time NCAA champion (1972-73) won 153 of 159 matches and pinned 109 foes.

During Askren’s career, he compiled a 153-8 record with 91 pins. That included a 42-0 mark in 2006-07 when the Tiger senior flattened 29 opponents. His 69 percent pinning percentage was even higher than the 55 percent of pins he collected (25 of 45) as a junior.

While Askren continues to train in his future quest of winning a World and Olympic gold medal, he will continue to live in Columbia, Mo., where he will serve as an assistant coach to Brian Smith. How will he now coach wrestlers to copy his mindset.

“I think it’s more of an attitude than a style of wrestling,” said Askren. “Some people think college wrestling is so hard and that every match has to be close. They are stuck in the mindset because that’s what everyone has told them. They realize that it is doable and once you set your mind on doing something, it’s easy.”

Askren said he found that out after receiving at least 95 surveys from former great college wrestlers.

“We are researching all the NCAA champions and we sent them questionnaires. One of the responses I got back from (former Minnesota champ and current Iowa State assistant coach) Tim Hartung said that once he learned college wrestling wasn’t about mediocrity and that matches did not have to be close, he opened up and started dominating people. It was a mindset for him and that’s what you have to tell people. Don’t come into the wrestling room expecting to be average. You might as well try to be the best.”

So who does Askren — who credits his former Arrowhead High School coach John Mesenbrink for his “go for the kill” attitude — believe could be the next Ben Askren?

“There are already a bunch of guys out there who are doing it, but maybe not to the extent that I did,” said Askren. “As far as moving forward, I could see (Iowa’s) Brent Metcalf taking on the Brands’ style, where he’s not absolutely going for the pin but keeps moving forward all the time attacking.”

While Askren is excited about coaching some day, he also wants to move forward with his own wrestling career. He was reminded about what was important during this year’s NCAA tournament in Auburn Hills, Mich., where he pinned three opponents before beating Pittsburgh’s Keith Gavin in the final and also had time to help his teammates.

“I had my nice shoes on for the All-American round when I was coaching some of my guys and I told (Oklahoma State head coach) John Smith that I was looking forward to coaching,” Askren recalled. “He told me I better not look too forward to coaching too soon or you are not going to be as successful as a competitor.

“I am going to take that advice to heart. He’s right. If I want to be as good a wrestler as I want to be, I can’t spend all my time coaching. I have to do what’s important to me, at least for the first couple years.”

Until then, the secret of Askren’s success will have to be watched instead of read.