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The Experiment

Jim Harshaw | Profile
February 20, 2009

There’s an experiment going on in wrestling. It’s going on quietly in a corner of the world not particularly known for it’s wrestling. The hypothesis was that an exceptional high school wrestling coach can be an exceptional Division I collegiate coach.

The first experiment begun at Old Dominion University 5 years ago. Steve Martin, the offspring of the legendary wrestling family in the Virginia Beach area, was the don of Great Bridge High School and led the program to the nation’s elite.

The second experiment began coincidentally in the same state. Three years ago Virginia Tech hired Kevin Dresser of Christiansburg High School. He too led his high school program to the nation’s elite.

But can they really take a mediocre Division I program to top? That question has been answered. The test tubes collided just this past week in front of the largest crowd to watch a wrestling match at ODU’s Ted Constant Convocation Center with ODU ranked 20th and VT ranked #14th in the nation. Enough said. (By the way, ODU won 19-15.)

Here’s the question for you Flonkies: Would Jeff Buxton of Blair Academy have the same success if he took over at Rider?  Or Greg Urbas of St. Ed’s at Cleveland State?  Steve Powell of Easton at Millersville?  Or is the Iowa background a pre-requisite?

What other high school coaches could pull it off?

 



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#16
Fresno State   March 17 at 8:22pm
Dennis Dellido was the head coach at Clovis High school before he coached at fresno state
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#15
Don Singles   February 23 at 3:43pm
Roy Hall has coached 3 wrestlers who have went on to be All Americans (John Reader-Iowa State, Brent Metcalf-Iowa, Paul Donahoe-Nebraska/Edinboro), with two of them becoming national champions (Metcalf and Donahoe). Reader is only a sopre this year, so it's not outside the realm of possibility that he will also end up a national champ.

Another wrestlers coached by Hall that has been successful at the college level is Trevor Perry of Indiana (2 X NCAA qualifier).
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#14
Anonymous Coward   February 23 at 1:34pm
paul donahoe and metcalf are the two i know of
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#13
Joe Delia   February 23 at 12:07pm
Sean Dunn said:
“Roy Hall has coached 3-4 NCAA champs. I do not think I KNOW he could mold and build a monster team at MSU.”
Who are the 3-4 NCAA Champs he has coached?
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#12
WPIAL Wrestling Fan   February 23 at 10:20am
Tom Dolde Sr. of Connellsville can. Connellsville has been THE powerhouse of WPIAL since the 1980's. Only team in the Southwest Region in PA to make the playoffs every year since it's beginning. Tied with the most WPIAL Championships, a PIAA State Championship etc. Even though his son Tom Dolde is the head coach now, Tom Dolde Sr. built that program and I believe he would be able to do the same at Division I.
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#11
Ohwrestler   February 22 at 7:16pm
st. eds coach should go college and blair coach should go college
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#10
ROY HALL!!!!   February 22 at 2:36pm
MSU!!! URGENT!!!! WE WANT ROY HALL AS THE NEXT HEAD COACH AT MSU!!!! MINKEL HAS TO GO!!!!
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#9
buffett   February 22 at 1:33pm
Being a successful head coach means developing a plan of action, hiring and delegating to like minded individuals who share the plan. Then recruiting kids and having them have enough confidence to buy into the HC's plan of action.

For example, Joe Gibbs was a tremendous HC of the Washington Redskins, he then became successful in NASCAR, because he knows how to develop and run an organization.

In this world, the PC thing is to say,"everyone is the same". No they're NOT. Some people are just better than others. HC's, especially, the best HC's are special people. Successful people are the "cream of the crop" and they will ALWAYS rise to the top, if people will get the hell out of their way.
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#8
Njdude   February 22 at 10:36am
scott goodale went from jackson memorial, a team that consistently finishes high among rankings in nj, to rutgers and is currently turning that team around by collecting one of the best recruituing classes in the nation.
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#7
Ohio   February 22 at 7:54am
being a great wrestler does not mean a great or even a good coach, it is a far different animal. All the above coaches are mentors of great wrestlers and great men. to think they are less qualified to coach at the next level is ubsurd. They now how to handle different personalities and skill levels, budgets, weight loss, and have the perspective of time. Give them a shot, they have earned it in spades. And believe me ohio knows!
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#6
Sean Dunn   February 22 at 7:10am
Roy Hall has coached 3-4 NCAA champs. I do not think I KNOW he could mold and build a monster team at MSU.
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#5
MU Grad   February 21 at 4:39pm
As a MU grad, as well as someone who later lived in the Lehigh Valley- I'm certain Steve Powell could turn the Marauders into a formidable PSAC force. Why?? He has consistently had his team wrestling like seasoned college contenders. Takedown machines- hand fighting, making angles, head-hands defense, finishing moves, always press the action, mat sense... DISCIPLINED.
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#4
Buxton Rules   February 21 at 4:17pm
Buxton could coach at the college level. Did you see how his team finished at preps today (I know that is not enough). Is it a coincidence that many all american and national champs came from his wrestling room, Even Olympians. The thing is, I am not sure if he would like to leave the high school level. It seems like he enjoys being a part of these kids lives while they are making important life decisions. The way his athletes talk about him and his role in their life is amazing. Besides being an excellent coach, I hear he is outstanding in the classroom.
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#3
Michigan State   February 21 at 2:23pm
Minkel has got to go at the end of this year, no two ways about it. Maybe Roy Hall can replace him?
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#2
Ryan Devlin   February 21 at 2:21pm
Nice post Jim, I think you are right. Hopefully though the new head coach at Cleveland State will do a great job, even if it isnt Greg Urbas. Time to wash out these bad coaches to make way for some passionate people to get in there and do a great job! BTW what is the deal with Ohio University!!! Is that guy going to bounce, get bounced or what?
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#1
Maybe   February 21 at 2:17pm
Some coaches would be able to hack it...Mainly Jeff Buxton...but he has got such a great gig up at Blair he wont leave. The only thing wrong with Riders program right now is their head coach (a big thing). The assistant is John Hangey is real solid but the head coach needs to scadoodle. He is worthless at this point and embodies everything that is wrong with wrestling...head coaches who havent performed hanging on because they get a pay check. Hangey, because he does such a great job, just perpetuates the head coaches position. I hope the Head coach scrams and leaves it open to John Hangey to run with the program
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5.0/5 (3 votes cast)