Updated with arrangements: Hall of Fame coach and wrestling legend Bill Weick has passed away at age 85
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Photo on TheMat.com Homepage: Bill Weick talks to a coach from the Soviet Union at a major international competition. Photo courtesy of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Photo in story: Bill Weick National Wrestling Hall of Fame plaque.
USA Wrestling has received word that Bill Weick, 85, a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and a legendary coach who developed champions at all levels, passed away Tuesday night.
USA Wrestling has received the following information on arrangements for Bill Weick.
Visitation. Sunday Aug 20, 2017 from 2pm-9pm at the Curley Funeral Home, 6116 111th St, Chicago, IL 60415
Funeral Mass: Monday morning Aug 21, 2017 at 10:30 am at the Most Holy Redeemer Church, 9525 So Lawndale, Evergreen Park, IL 60805
“Bill Weick was my personal coach at the Olympic Games and World Championships many times. He was instrumental in developing the skills, work ethic and mental toughness that set the foundation for my success over the years. I first met Bill in 1981, when he was coach of the World University Team. It was one of the toughest camps I had ever gone to. It was my second international experience, and I won. I owe a lot of my success to many coaches, and Bill was one of them who made a difference and set the groundwork for my success,” said USA Wrestling President Bruce Baumgartner, a two-time Olympic champion, four-time Olympic medalist and three-time World champion.
“Bill Weick is a respected legend and icon in wrestling. He will be deeply missed. He has had a positive impact upon literally thousands of wrestlers during his long and successful career. In his unique way, he shaped them into great competitors and fine men,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender.
“He was known for old-school toughness and love. He would make you laugh and challenge you to do what was best for you to become a better wrestler. It was much more than you thought you could do. He helped wrestlers get their hands raised at all levels. He coached from youth to the Juniors to high school and up to the Olympic level. There was nobody else like Bill. He had a way to get inside wrestlers and make a difference for them,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and a World silver medalist.
For many years, Weick was a member of the volunteer coaching staff for U.S. teams competing in international events. He was on the Olympic coaching staff for freestyle in 1972, 1980, 1984 and 1988 and worked with the Greco-Roman team in 1976. He was head coach of the 1975 Pan American Games team that won the team title, and also coached U.S. teams at the 1975 World Cup, as well as three Junior World Championships and the 1981 World University Games.
Weick was still coaching on the high school level this past year at the age of 85 at Brother Rice High School in Illinois, working with young wrestlers and helping them to succeed.
He started his legendary coaching career at Maquoketa High School in Iowa, before returning to his home state of Illinois to coach at Tilden Tech, his alma mater, Mount Carmel and finally at Brother Rice High Schools. His teams at Mount Carmel were among the greatest in the nation, winning the state dual meet title three years running and finishing second twice. He had 21 individual state champions during his tenure there, coaching Olympian Joe Williams, two-time NCAA champion T.J. Williams and many other talented stars.
Weick won an NCAA wrestling championship in 1952 for Iowa State Teachers College, now the University of Northern Iowa. The next two years, he served his country in the U.S. Army, then returned to Iowa Teachers to reclaim his second NCAA title.
In the international styles of wrestling, he was national runner-up three times and earned a spot on the very first U.S. World Greco-Roman team.
He was known for his amazing wit and good humor, but also for his ability to communicate well and motivate athletes. For many wrestling people for many decades, a smile came to their face upon hearing the words Bill Weick or seeing him in person.
Weick was elected as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2007 and in the Illinois chapter of the Hall of Fame in 2002. He was also inducted into the Glen Brand Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004.
Arrangements for Bill Weick have not yet been announced. USA Wrestling will post this right away when available, so his many friends from his home state of Illinois and from around the United States and across the world can participate.
Click here for Bill Weick’s Hall of Fame biography
Photo in story: Bill Weick National Wrestling Hall of Fame plaque.
USA Wrestling has received word that Bill Weick, 85, a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and a legendary coach who developed champions at all levels, passed away Tuesday night.
USA Wrestling has received the following information on arrangements for Bill Weick.
Visitation. Sunday Aug 20, 2017 from 2pm-9pm at the Curley Funeral Home, 6116 111th St, Chicago, IL 60415
Funeral Mass: Monday morning Aug 21, 2017 at 10:30 am at the Most Holy Redeemer Church, 9525 So Lawndale, Evergreen Park, IL 60805
“Bill Weick was my personal coach at the Olympic Games and World Championships many times. He was instrumental in developing the skills, work ethic and mental toughness that set the foundation for my success over the years. I first met Bill in 1981, when he was coach of the World University Team. It was one of the toughest camps I had ever gone to. It was my second international experience, and I won. I owe a lot of my success to many coaches, and Bill was one of them who made a difference and set the groundwork for my success,” said USA Wrestling President Bruce Baumgartner, a two-time Olympic champion, four-time Olympic medalist and three-time World champion.
“Bill Weick is a respected legend and icon in wrestling. He will be deeply missed. He has had a positive impact upon literally thousands of wrestlers during his long and successful career. In his unique way, he shaped them into great competitors and fine men,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender.
“He was known for old-school toughness and love. He would make you laugh and challenge you to do what was best for you to become a better wrestler. It was much more than you thought you could do. He helped wrestlers get their hands raised at all levels. He coached from youth to the Juniors to high school and up to the Olympic level. There was nobody else like Bill. He had a way to get inside wrestlers and make a difference for them,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and a World silver medalist.
For many years, Weick was a member of the volunteer coaching staff for U.S. teams competing in international events. He was on the Olympic coaching staff for freestyle in 1972, 1980, 1984 and 1988 and worked with the Greco-Roman team in 1976. He was head coach of the 1975 Pan American Games team that won the team title, and also coached U.S. teams at the 1975 World Cup, as well as three Junior World Championships and the 1981 World University Games.
Weick was still coaching on the high school level this past year at the age of 85 at Brother Rice High School in Illinois, working with young wrestlers and helping them to succeed.
He started his legendary coaching career at Maquoketa High School in Iowa, before returning to his home state of Illinois to coach at Tilden Tech, his alma mater, Mount Carmel and finally at Brother Rice High Schools. His teams at Mount Carmel were among the greatest in the nation, winning the state dual meet title three years running and finishing second twice. He had 21 individual state champions during his tenure there, coaching Olympian Joe Williams, two-time NCAA champion T.J. Williams and many other talented stars.
Weick won an NCAA wrestling championship in 1952 for Iowa State Teachers College, now the University of Northern Iowa. The next two years, he served his country in the U.S. Army, then returned to Iowa Teachers to reclaim his second NCAA title.
In the international styles of wrestling, he was national runner-up three times and earned a spot on the very first U.S. World Greco-Roman team.
He was known for his amazing wit and good humor, but also for his ability to communicate well and motivate athletes. For many wrestling people for many decades, a smile came to their face upon hearing the words Bill Weick or seeing him in person.
Weick was elected as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2007 and in the Illinois chapter of the Hall of Fame in 2002. He was also inducted into the Glen Brand Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004.
Arrangements for Bill Weick have not yet been announced. USA Wrestling will post this right away when available, so his many friends from his home state of Illinois and from around the United States and across the world can participate.
Click here for Bill Weick’s Hall of Fame biography
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