Joel Greenlee wrestled for the University of Northern Iowa from 1986-1989 where he was a two-time All-American. He never lost a collegiate dual meet, putting up a 58-0-3 record during his career as a Panther. Greenlee’s 127-16-4 career record gives him the best career winning percentage (minimum of 50 wins) in program history (.878). A state champion for Waverly-Shell Rock High School in 1985 at 185 pounds, Greenlee is the current head wrestling coach at Ohio University.

Joel Greenlee wrestled at the University of Northern Iowa from 1984-89, posting a collegiate record of 127-16-4 and went undefeated in dual meets. The four-time NCAA qualifier and two-time All-American earned Outstanding Wrestler honors after winning the Midlands tournament in 1989 and the Midwest tournament in 1988.

Greenlee also enjoyed success at the international level. He finished second at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in 1992 and was selected as a training partner for the Olympic Team. He won the Cerra Pelado Tournament in Cuba in 1993 and the Cuban All-Star Tournament in 1992. He placed third three times at the World Team Trials.

After working as an assistant coach at Northern Iowa from 1989-97, Greenlee arrived at Ohio University in 1997, hired as an assistant/interim head coach. He was named the full-time head coach before the 1998-99 season.

Greenlee's accomplishments during his first season at Ohio earned him the National Wrestling Coaches Association National Assistant Coach of the Year award in 1998. His 1997-98 team finished ninth at the NCAA Tournament, the best finish since 1973, and also won the Mid-American Conference with a 5-0 conference record.

He coached Dwight Gardner to the school's first individual national title since 1978 and guided Shawn Enright to a second-place national finish.

Greenlee enters his 23rd year as head coach at Ohio in 2019-20.

During his time leading the Bobcats, the program has logged 12 All-America honors and 20 individual conference championships while also capturing two team conference titles.