By BUTCH HARMON
Behind every successful wrestler and wrestling team is a successful coach. The state of Michigan has been blessed through the years to have had hundreds of outstanding wrestling coaches who have produced countless championship teams and wrestlers. High School Sports Scene takes a look at some of the greatest Michigan wrestling coaches of all time.
1. Bill Regnier – Bedford (1966-95): Regnier built the Kicking Mules into a wrestling power that ruled Michigan wrestling for 30 years. He finished his career with a 500-57-3 record and an unbelievable .893 winning percentage. He guided Bedford to nine Class A state championships and four runner-up finishes. He led Bedford to 26 Great Lakes League championships, 20 district championships, and 19 regional titles. He also coached over 25 individual state champions and is a member of the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
2. Mike Rodriguez – Kimball, River Rouge, Detroit Catholic Central (1958-2007): Rodriguez wrapped up his career with 734 wins and a .726 winning percentage. He guided Detroit Catholic Central to seven state championships and also won a state championship with River Rouge. Rodriguez coached 18 all-Americans, 29 state champions with a total of 38 individual state championships, and over 125 state placers. He was elected to the Michigan Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame and was also named National Coach of the Year.
3. Roy Hall – Davison (1998-present): Hall rebuilt the Davison wrestling program into a power after taking over in 1998. Heading into this season, he had fashioned a record of 428-73-1 for an amazing .853 winning percentage. A two-time Michigan Coach of the Year, he has led Davison to six state titles, and his wrestlers have won 25 individual state championships. A National Coach of the Year, he has also produced a number of wrestlers who have gone on to wrestle in college.
4. Bruce Bittenbender – Lakeshore (1970-present): One of only two wrestling coaches in the entire United States with over 800 wins, Bittenbender ended this season at 840 career wins. His teams made it to the team state tournament several times and twice reached the finals. He coached wrestlers who have combined for 20 individual state championships. Bittenbender has twice won National Coach of the Year honors and is a member of the Michigan Wrestling Association Hall of Fame.
5. Don Rinehart – Rockford (1981-2009): Rinehart built Rockford into a West Michigan wrestling powerhouse in his nearly 30 years as head coach. He finished his career with a 557-152-2 overall record, for a .785 winning percentage. He coached Rockford to two state championships, 12 conference titles, 15 district titles, and 11 regional titles. He coached 78 all-state wrestlers during his career, is a two-time Michigan Coach of the Year, and is a member of the Michigan Coaches Hall of Fame.
6. Scott Marry – Hudson (1988-present): Marry guided the Hudson program to five consecutive state titles before placing second at the state meet last season. He is closing in on 700 career wins and annually has the Tigers ranked among the top teams in Division 4.
7. Rocky Shaft, Holt (1980-present): Shaft has coached the Rams since 1980 and earlier this year surpassed 500 career dual wins. He has guided the Rams to three Division 1 state titles during his tenure.
8. Rod Rapp – Mt. Pleasant (1965-1989): Rapp built Mt. Pleasant into a wrestling powerhouse during his 24 years at the helm. He compiled a 293-83-3 record during his career and led the Oilers to 19 conference championships. Rapp also coached wrestlers to 18 individual state championships and produced five high school all-Americans.
9. George Hamblin – Richmond (1991-2002, 2003-12): Hamblin was behind a memorable run of success for the Blue Devils. He compiled a 551-162-1 record at Richmond and guided the team to six state titles. Hamblin is also a member of the Michigan Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
10. Jack Provencal – New Lothrop, Eaton Rapids, Grand Haven (1973-1999): Provencal is best known for coaching Eaton Rapids to four state championships and two state runner-up finishes. A member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Provencal compiled a career mark of 311-72-3 (.806 winning percentage) and coached 56 state medalists and 15 state champions.
11. Tim Roberts – Dundee (2000-present): The Dundee wrestling program has been a power for years, and Roberts has been one of the most successful coaches during that celebrated history. Entering this season, he had compiled a record of 413-55-1 (.881 winning percentage). He has guided the Vikings to four state championships during his career.
12. Don Johnson – Lansing Eastern: Johnson established Lansing Eastern as a state wrestling power in the 1950s and 60s, leading the team to five open class state championships.
13. Tom Krepps – Marlette, Grandville (1975-98): Krepps annually had Grandville among the top Class A teams in the state during his time there. He finished his career with a 426-58-5 record (.871 winning percentage). He led Grandville to two state titles, 19 conference championships, 21 district titles, and nine regional titles. He also coached 47 all-state wrestlers.
14. Murray Rose – Allegan (1986-96, 1999-present): Rose and his teams have dominated wrestling in southwestern Michigan. Rose entered the season with a 689-145-2 record at Allegan and an .824 winning percentage. He has also guided Allegan to a state team championship.
15. Gary Rivers – Lowell (1960-98): The godfather of wrestling coaches in West Michigan, Rivers not only established the Lowell wrestling program but also mentored many other coaches on the west side of the state. The man with the red socks, Rivers went 499-133-6 in his career at Lowell. He guided Lowell to 20 conference, 14 district, and six regional titles.
16. Tom Lehman – Thornapple Kellogg (1973-09): Lehman built the Thornapple Kellogg wrestling program into a powerhouse. Lehman won a state title and fashioned a 710-234-7 overall record and a .747 winning percentage.
17. Jim Mooney – Williamston: Mooney began his career at Williamston and coached at the school for 32 years. He compiled a 305-125-3 overall record and led Williamston to a state championship. A member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, he coached 19 state champions and 46 state qualifiers.
18. Dave Robertson – Corunna (1978-2011): Robertson built the Corunna wrestling team into a mid-Michigan power for 34 years. He led Corunna to a 636-134-5 record with an .821 winning percentage. Robertson coached the Cavaliers to a pair of state semifinal appearances, four quarterfinal appearances, 16 team district championships, and 24 league titles.
19. Paul Johnson – Greenville (1990-present): Greenville became a perennial wrestling powerhouse in mid Michigan after Johnson took over the program. He has guided Greenville to a 536-116-13 record and an .806 winning percentage. Johnson has also guided Greenville to one state championship.
20. Mitch Hancock – Detroit Catholic Central (2006-present): In his years coaching the Shamrocks, Hancock has led the team to five state finals. Catholic Central has won four times, including a string of three in a row. Hancock has been named Michigan Wrestling Coach of the Year once and is a three-time regional Coach of the Year.
21. Todd Cheney – Hartland (1992-present): The Eagles have been a perennial power in Division 1 under Cheney’s guidance. Cheney entered the season with a 602-92-2 record for a .865 winning percentage. He has led the Eagles to district titles in 19 of the past 20 years and has guided the team to 14 consecutive regional titles.
22. Duane Wohlfort – Fenton (1965-2000): Wohlfort built the Fenton wrestling program into a state power during his 35 years as coach. He capped his career with a 542-176-4 overall record and three state titles.
23. Dave Dean – Lowell (2005-2014): During Dean’s nine years coaching at Lowell, he led the Red Arrows to two state championships and three state runner-up finishes. He also won nine district, seven regional, and seven league titles. Dean coached 75 state placers and 12 state champions during his tenure.
24. Sam Amine – Lincoln, Troy, Detroit Catholic Central, Brighton: Amine was the youngest coach to win a state title when he led Lincoln to the 1994 title at the age of 24. He was also the youngest coach to lead a team to three state finals. Amine had a 90% winning percentage over his 23 years coaching and was twice named Michigan Coach of the Year.
25. Scott Warriner – Eaton Rapids: Warriner was part of the impressive run of state titles at Eaton Rapids, coaching the Grayhounds to four state titles and three state runner-up finishes.
26. Jerry Schneider – Addison (1979-2002): Schneider turned in a 467-62-5 record (.875 winning percentage) during his years coaching the Panthers. He also led the team to a pair of state championships.
27. John Hasselbach – New Lothrop: Hasselbach led New Lothrop to five state championships from 1978 through 1985.
28. Tom Casteel – Montrose: Casteel guided Montrose to five state championships from 1975 through 1983.
29. Robert Threloff – St. Louis, Ithaca (1971-08): Threloff turned in a 522-273-6 record during nearly four decades of coaching A five-time regional Coach of the Year, he was also elected to the Michigan Wrestling Hall of Fame.
30. George Reynolds – Okemos: Reynolds built a wrestling power at Okemos in the 1960s and guided the Chieftains to three consecutive Class B state titles.
Special mention: Zane Ballard, St. Johns; Dave Beazley, Montrose; Denny Brighton, Bedford; Stan Devoir, Lawton; Jim Dewland, Western; Nate Ethridge, Chippewa Hills; Ed Felt, Shelby; Dennis Fox, Adrian; Craig Funsch, Whittemore-Prescott; Mike Gaken, Pinconning; Bob Galvin, Grand Rapids West Catholic, Brandywine; Ron Helmboldt, Sparta, Niles; I.J. Konrad, Lansing Sexton; Jerry LaJoie, Gaylord; Don Mosley, Mona Shores; Shawn Murray, Sterling Heights; Jim Peltier, Yale; Dan Pluta, Holly; John Quaderer, New Lothrop; B.J. Schroder, Northview, Grand Rapids Catholic Central; Rick Sherry, Addison; Gail Shinall, Madison; Rick Smith, East Kentwood; Dave Strejc, Lowell; Matt Turnbow, Goodrich; John Virnich, Lapeer West; Bert Waterman, Ypsilanti; Duane Watson, Allendale; Jim Wittibslager, Dundee; Don Whitman, Davison