Wrestling legend Dan Gable of Iowa City, Iowa has been named as head coach of the U.S. team that will compete in the 2003 World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling at Bank of America Centre In Boise, Idaho, April 5-6.    Gable was a World and Olympic champion as an athlete, considered one of the greatest competitors in American history. As a coach, Gable was a record-setting college coach, and has served as head coach of three U.S. Olympic teams.    The World Cup features dual meet competitions between six nations, with a team champion determined. In addition, individual medalists are awarded, based upon the results in each weight class. Traditionally, many of the world's best international freestyle wrestlers participate in the event.    "The World Cup is one of the major events in wrestling; it is high on the ladder," said Gable. "Usually, our No. 1 wrestlers compete in the World Cup. This is an important event."    Gable will be coaching his 11th World Cup team, the most World Cup assignments of any U.S. coach.    He served as head coach of the 1980, 1984 and 2000 U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling teams. The 1980 team was unable to participate in the Moscow Olympics due to the U.S. boycott of the Games. The 1984 U.S. Olympic team dominated the Games, winning seven gold medals and two silver medals. The 2000 Olympic team, which Gable coached with co-head coaches John Smith and Greg Strobel, won four medals including one gold medalist.    Gable also served as the head coach of  five U.S. World teams (1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1994, 1999). He was the head coach of the 1986 U.S. Goodwill Games team.    He is considered the most successful college coach of all time, setting numerous career records as the head coach for the Univ. of Iowa. His Iowa teams won 15 NCAA team titles during his 21-year career, including an amazing steak of nine in a row from 1978-86. He retired from college coaching after winning the 1997 NCAA team title, with a record number of team points.     Gable was a 1972 Olympic gold medalist and 1971 World champion as an athlete, as well as a two-time NCAA champion for Iowa State Univ. Gable originally hails from Waterloo, Iowa.    "Since 2000, I have not been an official coach for a U.S. national event," said Gable. "With the Olympics getting close again, I am getting excited again. I have been involved in the last nine Olympic Games, and it is good for me to take this on right now. I like to stay close to wrestling at this level."    Joining Gable as assistant coaches for the U.S. team are Greg Randall of Boise, Idaho and Shawn Charles of Lincoln, Neb.    Randall became the head coach at Boise State Univ. at the conclusion of the 2002 season, after 10 years as an assistant coach under Mike Young. During Randall's time at Boise State, the Broncos have become a nationally-ranked power on an annual basis. Randall competed for Gable when he was a three-time NCAA All-American at the Univ. of Iowa, including two NCAA runner-up positions. In freestyle, Randall won the Pan American Championships, and placed second at the U.S. Nationals and U.S. Olympic Festival.    Charles is currently the assistant wrestling coach at the Univ. of Nebraska. He also served as assistant coach for Central Michigan Univ., as well as at Iowa State and Phoenix College. Charles also served as the club coach for the Univ. of Oklahoma. He was a four-time NCAA All-American for Arizona State Univ. In freestyle wrestling, Charles won a U.S. Nationals title, and qualified for the U.S. national team a number of times.    Tickets for the World Cup are now on sale.    All-session tickets for both individuals and groups are on sale. The competition will be held Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6. There will be four sessions of action, featuring the best international freestyle wrestling teams in the world, including the host United States.    All-Session tickets for adults cost just $69, and include great seats for all four sessions of action, and a free ticket to the *Champions Clinic.*     All-Session tickets for youth (ages 2-18) cost  just $59, and include great seats for all four sessions of action, and a free ticket to the "Champions Clinic."    For groups of 10 or more individuals, there will be a $4 discount on each All-Session ticket for the entire group.    Fans can order their tickets in a number of ways. Tickets are available via telephone at (208)331-TIXS, via the internet at www.idahotickets.com or in person at all Select-A-Seat locations.    The event is being organized by Star USA, a nationally-respected firm which has presented numerous major Olympic sports event across the nation.    The weekend will begin with a major youth wrestling competition, the World Cup Kids Open, set for Friday, April 4. Young wrestlers will be able compete in the tournament, then watch the world's best athletes at the World Cup. Medals from the World Cup Kids Open will be presented during the World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling. Participants must be USA Wrestling members. For information on the youth tournament, contact R.J. Scott by phone at (208)587-9720 or via e-mail at rjscott64@cs.com.    Fans can stay where the teams stay at the Grove Hotel in Boise. Call the Grove Hotel at (208)333-8000 and ask reservations for the World Cup rate.    The host United States has recently dominated the Freestyle World Cup, winning 10 of the last 13 team titles, including the most recent World Cup held in Spokane, Wash. in 2002. Russia won the 1992 and 1998 World Cups, and Iran was the champion of the 1996 World Cup.    For more information on the World Cup, contact Gary Abbott of USA Wrestling at 719-598-8181.