We hear a lot about great kids all over kentucky but what about coaches. Who are the best coaches in both middle and high school?  Some have coached both levels.  Let's give some shout outs for the dedicated coaching staff who work year round to help about the wrestlers all over the state. :-D

Carr's and Parks obviously, Bankemper, Paden, Union Co coach (don't know his name), Headley, Matney, Upchurch, there's probably more but I can't think of them right now

In my opinion Gary Canter has to be mentioned. Not only is he a great guy to be around, he has helped so many wrestlers see their true worth and potential. Proof of this  is in the 2nd seed from Region 2 this year, Nelson County, who is coached by non other than one of, if not the, greatest wrestlers to wrestle for LaRue, Jason Detre. Or the numerous validictorians who have wrestled for him, or even the many military members who have recieved scholarships because of his pushing them to be the best they can be. I would like to give my personal thanks to Gary Canter for making not only my time with him and his family a memorable one, but for the opportunity to learn from one of the best in the State at what he does.

    I can't speak for any of the coaches listed on a personal level, but their records and accomplishments speak for themselves anyway on a professional level.  A few present coaches I will mention from Jefferson County that I do know are Coach Brown from Trinity and Coach Anderson from Seneca.  Coach Brown was a great assistant for many years and I know he not only has helped many of the current wrestlers at Trinity achieve their potential, but I can also say he helps kids from all over Jefferson County.  In 2007 when Nickel won his state title, Coach Brown spent a great deal of time helping Derek.  It didn't matter to him that Derek was from another local school, he just saw potential in him and wanted to help Derek realize that potential.  That says a lot for a man's character when he is willing to help not only his own wrestlers, but others who want to be better and are willing to work for it.

    As for Coach Anderson, well he's older than dirt. lol.  IMO, he does more with kids who have less experience than any coach I know.  More often than not, kids come to Seneca as freshman without any previous wrestling experience and by the time they are seniors, Coach Anderson has a lot of those kids ranked high in the state and standing on the podium at the end of the year.  Just in the last couple of years he has taken about a dozen or so kids and turned them into pretty good wrestlers in a short period of time.  Just look at Seneca's current lineup and most, if not all, have had no prior wrestling experience prior to high school.  When a coach can do that on a consistent basis, that says a lot about their coaching ability.

High School:

Joe Carr Sr., Mike Bankemper, Wayne Badida, Rick Barker, Tim Ruschell, Gary Canter, Dave Barnes

Past: Coach Parks, Bill Boyle (SK), Madding (Scott), Plosser from Hoptown

Middle School:

Jacob Holbrook, Keith Ruschell, Union County's coach (I think Hagedorn), Johnson County & Wayne County have some good m.s. coaches

Past: Mark Hitchings, Eddie Paden

Harrison County's Coach Russ Riegel - 50 years coaching and 800+ career dual wins with numerous state champions and state runners-up in both Kentucky and New Jersey.

Sorry instead of Paden I meant Canter.  Paden did coach for LaRue right?

Yes, Paden just stepped down as middle school coach this past year. He is now a volunteer assistant with the High School so he can be with Nick.

A name from the past is Bob Warnick from Boone. Along with Bill Boyle (sk). Also would like to thank all the youth coaches throughout the state. These now get something I wish I had at their age.

I have loved the sport since the early 80's so I have to give a shout out to Loader Thomas from Union County.  He had some of the best teams in KY history.  A lot of his wrestlers are still giving back to KY wrestling:  G. Ervin, R. Ervin, T. Ervin, D. Lovell, B. Hagedorn and M. Sheffer to name just a few.  He is even getting back in the action with his grandsons at the ms level.

Jim Ploesser !!!!!  :-)  Dominated mid and late 80's and early 90's.  Faught off cancer twice!!!  ENJOY RETIREMENT JIM

Phil Coomes

Jerry Whalen

Harrison County's Coach Russ Riegel - 50 years coaching and 800+ career dual wins with numerous state champions and state runners-up in both Kentucky and New Jersey.

Is that the fellow with the suit?  If so, that guy is a classy dude!!  One of the nicest people you could ever meet.

Jim Southard (Flick) who coached at Western for about 30 years then later assisted at Desales.  Western had a great program in the late 80s and early 90s.  One of the few teams in the county who could hang with Trinity and St X.  We even won the JCTC in 88.

Riegel certainly should be added to the list.  I didn't know he ever coached outside of KY.  How did he do in Jersey?

Coach Gary Canter. Coach Canter has been a excelent coach to be able to be around and is very well known for pumping out well trained wrestlers. Another one in region 2 is Coach Adam Lindsey from what I hear and seen of him he is no cake walk. He is tough and knows how to get his wrestlers in good shape.

I have loved the sport since the early 80's so I have to give a shout out to Loader Thomas from Union County.  He had some of the best teams in KY history.  A lot of his wrestlers are still giving back to KY wrestling:  G. Ervin, R. Ervin, T. Ervin, D. Lovell, B. Hagedorn and M. Sheffer to name just a few.  He is even getting back in the action with his grandsons at the ms level.

I think I saw Coach Thomas down at the Fern Creek MS tournament.  He seemed like a pretty intense guy.  Especially for an older man.

I'm a pretty biased fellow but I have to give recognition for my coach. Coach Burnham and Coach Adams of Christian County when they came into the program probably only had about 4 or 5 kids come to practice on a good day. By the time I had showed up which was three or four years later the wrestling room had about 25-30 wrestlers conisistanly and started to build a middle school program. He finally had 2 state Champions that he pushed every day in Kris Perry and AJ Green. It is amazing only having four years gone from virtually no one to a team that placed 13th at the state tournament. Since that first year Coach Burnham had come into the program CC has done nothing but grow and grow. We now have a fairly large middle school program, elemetary school program, and an always improving high school program. We've had someone place from our team every year since he's been here, but the ultimate goal he would like to reach is to return CC to that dominant state that they were in the late 80's. With the way Coach Burnham is running things I see this as a very realistic goal for CC.

Coach Walls and Ervin (Isaac's father) are excellet coaches as well as great guys.

Also the legendary coach Plosser and Perrin have to be mentioned.

I've heard Coach Riegel has an incredible number of wins, if true he has to be one of the top active coaches in the country in the "Wins" category!

It would be interesting to know his actual wins and loses and years coaching and know how that ranks with the records nationally.

Congrats to Coach Riegle!

Coach Riegle coached in N.J. from 1956-91 with 500+ victories.  He also wrestled in college and I believe he only had one loss in his college career.  He also had a stellar career in high school.  To answer another question, he is the gentleman in the suit.  You couldn't ask to meet a nicer person.  He always treats you with respect.  He teaches his wrestlers more than wrestling.  He teaches them about life and how you should approach it. E-ville-I think this is his 50th year coaching and last year he got his 800th career dual win at the Montgomery County Tournament. 

Wow, it seems almost everyone is impressed with their coaches. Good reason for that, these guys work as hard as the kids in most cases, and for the love of the sport. I don't think any of them are paid nearly what it is really worth for the lives they change.

I can only personally speak about Coach Anderson from Seneca. Thank you DragonMaster for your recognition of a coach that has no feeder program and STILL turns out state champs. I have seen such a difference in my son, all for the good, he was a good kid before meeting and working for coach Anderson, now he is a great young man. Coach Anderson gives these kids so much more than just wrestling knowledge, I personally know of many things he has done in the past for his boys, both in and out of the wrestling room. He would not expect any recognition, but he deserves it, as do all of the coaches out there.

So to ALL of the wrestling coaches giving so much of their time, as well as blood, sweat and tears; THANK YOU for everything you do!!!

Tony Harris.. He was a long time Hoptown Assist. now over at Christian County.  He starts the base for a good middle school foundation so they will be ready for the Varsity.  The assistants dont always get the glory, been Tony deserves some.  The only man that I've ever seen work a full time job , 2 or 3 part time jobs at the same time and still have time to help his program.  Thanx a million MACHINE!!!

No-OX coach Joe Burroughs has been a great contributor to Kentucky wrestling.  He has been teaching and motivating kids here in Hardin County for the last 10 years.  He not only teaches you how to wrestle but teaches you life lessons that carry on into adulthood.  He has helped transform many of our youth in this county into fine upstanding young men.  I would like to say thank you Joe B. 

I think Riegel has the national record for wins.  Can anyone confirm this?

i don't know if hes the best as far as his record goes but boonecountys coach andy sherlock is a good coach and freind on and off the mat

i don't know if hes the best as far as his record goes but boonecountys coach andy sherlock is a good coach and freind on and off the mat

As a first year head coach it is hard to have much of a record and with a young team it is even harder for that record to be among the best.  But I will say that any kid who has wrestled for him really likes him.

Yes Coach Riegel is the leader in most career dual wins with over 800 and 50years of coaching. He coached in Hunterdon Central, NJ where the red devils where a powerhouse for many many years. He was 97-1 in his college career at Gettysburg College, 4x Mid Atlantic Champion and 2x MOW of the Mid Atlantic's, also wrestled for the Navy after his college career, 2x state runner up and 2x state champ in high school. Also was a standout in Baseball and Football. He is also in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, OK also in the NJHSAA hall of fame.

Tony Harris.. He was a long time Hoptown Assist. now over at Christian County.  He starts the base for a good middle school foundation so they will be ready for the Varsity.  The assistants dont always get the glory, been Tony deserves some.  The only man that I've ever seen work a full time job , 2 or 3 part time jobs at the same time and still have time to help his program.  Thanx a million MACHINE!!!

I'd have to say I credit Coach Harris for most everything I've learned about wrestling. He's still down there bustin' their butts too! I think he's 50 something, but his saying is I wouldn't make you do anything that I wouldn't do myself.

Recently retired Coach Eddie Rudolph from Trinity is one of the best coaches I have been involved with.  His approach went beyond just making them good wrestlers on the mat.  He made them good men overall in life. 

No-OX coach Joe Burroughs has been a great contributor to Kentucky wrestling.  He has been teaching and motivating kids here in Hardin County for the last 10 years.  He not only teaches you how to wrestle but teaches you life lessons that carry on into adulthood.  He has helped transform many of our youth in this county into fine upstanding young men.  I would like to say thank you Joe B. 

KY High School Best Coach from the past.....Fern Creek's Tim Dench. 

i have to say ryles coaching staff always turns something out of something a little less. they all have their own style to throw on the wrestlers, along with a lot of humor. i never spent one day in that room with out laughing.

Coach Hagedorn of Union County with their middle school program.  I found out yesterday at middle school state that he has only been coaching for 4 years.  He has had 2 consecutive state dual titles, 3 straight state titles and has been named coach of the year for 3 straight years.  He is a really nice and respectable guy.

I would have to say that coach Gene Wolf from Madison County is a great coach He finally got a great wrestling program started n Madison county and he really cares about the kids

i think one of the better coaches is rob fulk of north oldham high school he brings out the best in each and everyone of kids. he pusches his kids to the limmit each and everyday either ur a first year JV wrestler are ur ranked in the top 5 n state u work till ur body is drained and then u go a lil bit more :mrgreen:

I'm biased but Chuck Anderson (Seneca) took me from a Freshman that didn't know anything about the sport to a senior that finished the year undefeated and at the top of the podium at state and 1 win away from placing at Senior Nationals.  I wasn't the only guy who he has done that with.  He is great at teaching a lot of technique and motivation quickly.

I'm biased but Chuck Anderson (Seneca) took me from a Freshman that didn't know anything about the sport to a senior that finished the year undefeated and at the top of the podium at state and 1 win away from placing at Senior Nationals.  I wasn't the only guy who he has done that with.  He is great at teaching a lot of technique and motivation quickly.

Chuck is a heckuva coach. Loud as hell too.

He will be missed.

He will be missed.

I never thought I would see the day when he would walk away.  He has been talking about it for as long as I can remember.  I just thought that one day he would eventually pass away in the coaches corner, when some hotshot would try something crazy and he his old ticker would give out.  I know I tested that old ticker.  :-D Glad he got to walk away on his own terms.  That is one man that I care a whole lot for.

I never thought I would see the day when he would walk away.  He has been talking about it for as long as I can remember.  I just thought that one day he would eventually pass away in the coaches corner, when some hotshot would try something crazy and he his old ticker would give out.  I know I tested that old ticker.  :-D Glad he got to walk away on his own terms.  That is one man that I care a whole lot for.

I was sure that was why CPR certification was mandatory in Jefferson County.

justin bozeman from mccreary co. that team has ZERO support from the community or the school and yet they manage to send multiple kids to state and he runs pratices wit great work ethic. i am a former wrestler from there and my dad passed away my senior year and he invited to me to his house and supported me and helped me not give up gave me a job when i need money and would do anything for anyone. a great stand out guy! i could not have made it through that year wit out him!

its nice to see people still give a rats tail about someone besides themselves

A name from the past is Bob Warnick from Boone. Along with Bill Boyle (sk). Also would like to thank all the youth coaches throughout the state. These now get something I wish I had at

Aint herd them names in along time.Boyle went to BOONE annd I forgot we coached at SK thanks heavy83

screwed that reply up

In region 6 which is really all I am familiar with

Past:

Wayne Badida- 19 state champs from 1976-1996

                    2- 4 time finalist

                    2- High School All Americans

                    1983 State Championship Team

                    1981 Runner Up

                    Only 4 time state champ from Northern Kentucky

I don't think you can really argue those numbers

Present:

Tim Ruschell and Rich Barker

Not too sure of there stats but every year it seems like Ryle is getting better and better. I'm so glad I don't have to wrestle Ryle anymore cause they are quickly turning into one of the elite programs in the state.

Middle School:

No brainer: Keith Ruschell- They have a great program going on over there and they are the reason the high school is becoming more and more successful. Year in and Year out they are the team to beat in Northern Kentucky.

Other Coaches: Rob Holbrook, and Steve Kaiser really have made their middle school teams tough as nail and they are a pain to dual against.

Jim Matney (Sheldon Clark 1989-2004, Johnson Central 2004-present)

2 State Tournament Championships @ Sheldon Clark (94,95)

2 State Duals Championships @ Sheldon Clark (94,95)

17 Individual State Champs @ Sheldon Clark

1 State Champ @ Johnson Central

2 MOWs (Josh Stepp and Bruce Stepp)

Pretty impressive, and I am sure he will have a few more champs in the coming years.  He has really taken Johnson Central and turned the programs around.

In region 6 which is really all I am familiar with

Past:

Wayne Badida- 19 state champs from 1976-1996

                     2- 4 time finalist

                     2- High School All Americans

                     1983 State Championship Team

                     1981 Runner Up

                     Only 4 time state champ from Northern Kentucky

I don't think you can really argue those numbers

Present:

Tim Ruschell and Rich Barker

Not too sure of there stats but every year it seems like Ryle is getting better and better. I'm so glad I don't have to wrestle Ryle anymore cause they are quickly turning into one of the elite programs in the state.

Middle School:

No brainer: Keith Ruschell- They have a great program going on over there and they are the reason the high school is becoming more and more successful. Year in and Year out they are the team to beat in Northern Kentucky.

Other Coaches: Rob Holbrook, and Steve Kaiser really have made their middle school teams tough as nail and they are a pain to dual against.

Coach Smith, thank you for giving Coach Badida accolades. I love the man and believe he is a living Adolph Rupp. If I may, I need to correct a few of your stats. Please forgive me.

Coach Badida had the first 5 time state finalist. Joe Carr Jr being the other. Robbie Clarkston was a runner up as an 8th grader. I still like to put a statistical spin and state that Coach Badida remains the "only" coach in Kentucky history to "ever" have a 5 time state finalist and 4 year consecutive state champ.

He also had a 3 time state champ, Pat Martz. Someone can correct me if I am wrong, but I believe Pat Martz may have been a runner up as well, making him a 4 time state finalist. Troy Cole is the other 4 time finalist.

His dossier is amazing and too long to list. Most importantly, Coach Badida is a gentleman, a mentor to many wrestlers and young men, and an admirable man who would never sacrifice principle for glory.

Coach Tim Ruschell and Coach Rick Barker( 3 time champ) are no doubt a phenomenal duo. Coach Barker is very technical while Coach Ruschell tows the hard line. This combination will make Ryle the next the generational power house in Kentucky. Of course, given all of Woodford County's accomplishments,  they will not be dethroned for decades to come.