Bill Zadick receives Myron Roderick Man of the Year award from USA Wrestling
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Bill Zadick (right) receives the Man of the Year Award from USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender during Final X at Lehigh. Photo by Justin Hoch.
Bill Zadick of Colorado Springs, Colo. has been named the Myron Roderick Man of the Year by USA Wrestling, the national governing body for wrestling in the United States. This award recognizes an outstanding man for his contributions to the sport of wrestling.
The award is named in memory of the late Myron Roderick, one of the most influential figures in American wrestling history, a man who made an amazing impact as an athlete, college coach, administrator and visionary. Roderick was one of the founding fathers of USA Wrestling, developing from the U.S. Wrestling Federation of the late 1960s to what it has become today.
In 2017, Zadick completed his first year as USA Wrestling’s National Freestyle Coach, and led the team to World Team Title at the World Championships in Paris, France. With the title race going down to the last match, Kyle Snyder won a battle of Olympic champions over Abdulrashid Sadulaev of Russia for the 97 kg gold medal and the USA defeated Russia by one point.
It was the first Freestyle World Title for Team USA in 22 years, going back to the 1995 Worlds in Atlanta, Ga. Six U.S. team members won medals, with two golds (Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Snyder), two silvers (Thomas Gilman and James Green) and two bronzes (J’den Cox and Nick Gwiazdowski).
In his role overseeing the freestyle program at all levels, Zadick and his staff also produced one of the greatest years in USA Wrestling age-group history. The U.S. Junior World freestyle team also won the team title, led by seven medalists, including three individual champions. It was the first time that Team USA won the Junior Worlds in over 30 years.
At the 2018 Cadet World Championships, Team USA placed a strong second, with six medalists including four individual gold medalists. Team USA also had two individual medalists at the new U23 World Championships (for athletes age 18-23) and placed fourth in the team standings.
Other top achievements for Freestyle Team USA in 2017 was a second place finish at the Freestyle World Cup in Kermanshah, Iran, where the USA lost in the finals to host Iran in a dual meet which went down to the last match. The USA also won the men’s freestyle team title at the 2017 Pan American Championships held in Salvador, Brazil, led by seven individual medalists, including five champions.
“Clearly from a performance standpoint, it was a great year in men’s freestyle. It was our highest performance ever with our Senior and Junior World Teams winning team titles. It was one of the highest performances ever for our Cadet team in history, battling for the team title right to the end and taking second. We have added some great staff with Joe Russell and Kevin Jackson, who have been fantastic help for the program. It is a tremendous honor and really humbling. So many people contribute towards this, our RTCs, the personal coaches, the athletes, the current and former Team Leaders, our staff and many others. It is a team effort. I can’t accept an award like this without contributions from so many other people,” said Zadick.
Zadick was named the 2017 U.S. Olympic Committee Olympic Coach of the Year. He became the first USA Wrestling coach to win the USOC Olympic Coach of the Year award, and only the second U.S. wrestling coach to win any national award given by the USOC.
Bill Zadick first joined USA Wrestling in the position of Resident Coordinator and Assistant National Freestyle Coach in January 2009. He was a liaison between the U.S. Olympic Training Center and the resident athletes in all three styles and was also part of the national freestyle coaching staff.
Zadick was promoted to the position of National Freestyle Developmental Coach and Assistant National Freestyle Coach in September 2010. He oversaw the programs intended to improve the quality and quantity of men's freestyle athletes prior to the Senior level, working with age-group World Teams and programs.
During his four years working with the USA age-group teams (2011-2014), the USA won eight Cadet World medals, nine Junior World medals and 10 medals at the University Worlds or University World Games. Included were Cadet World champions Adam Coon, Zain Retherford, Aaron Pico, Spencer Lee, Mason Manville and Mark Hall, Junior World champion Kyle Snyder and University World champions Tyler Caldwell and Tyrell Fortune. In 2014, the U.S. age group World Teams reached new levels of success in freestyle, with the Cadets placing third in the World, the Juniors placing second in the World and the University team winning the World title.
In 2015, Zadick’s duties as Assistant National Coach were changed, where he focused upon the athletes and teams on the Senior level, working directly with National Coach Bruce Burnett working with the elite Senior athletes in all areas. He was part of the coaching staff at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships, where the United States won three medals, led by World champions Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Snyder. The USA also won the medal count at the 2015 Pan American Games with six medals, led by champions Brent Metcalf, Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Snyder and Zach Rey.
Prior to joining USA Wrestling, Zadick served as a volunteer assistant coach for the University of Iowa wrestling team for two seasons (2003-04).
Zadick was one of the nation’s best wrestlers on the youth, college and international levels before his coaching career started.
Zadick reached the top of the freestyle wrestling world in 2006, when he won a World gold medal at 66 kg/145.5 pounds in Guangzhou, China. His younger brother Mike won a silver medal at 60 kg/132 pounds at the 2006 World Championships, making them the first U.S. brothers to reach the World finals on the same year since Tom and Terry Brands in 1993. Zadick was a U.S. Olympic Training Center Resident athlete from 2004-2008, where his freestyle career flourished on the mat.
Zadick also competed in the 2001 World Championships, placing seventh. He was a runner-up at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in 2000 and 2008. He was a three-time U.S. Nationals runner-up (2003, 2006, 2008) and a two-time World Team Trials runner-up (1999, 2002). Zadick won a bronze medal at the 2007 Pan American Championships, and won the Sunkist Kids International Open in 1997 and 1998.
He won a NCAA Div. I title for the Univ. of Iowa in 1996 and was a two-time All-American, competing for the legendary Dan Gable. Zadick won a Big Ten title and posted a career record of 87-13 with 16 pins. Zadick earned a B.A. in art from the University of Iowa in 1996.
Originally from Great Falls, Montana, Zadick won four high school state titles for Great Falls High School (1988-91). He was active in USA Wrestling's age-group programs as a youth and through college.
PAST USA WRESTLING MAN OF THE YEAR WINNERS
2017 – Bill Zadick
2016 – Kyle Snyder
2015 – Bruce Burnett
2014 – Andy Barth
2013 – Bill Scherr
2012 – Jordan Burroughs
2011 – Dave Barry
2010 – Mike Novogratz
2009 – Greg Strobel
2008 - Sonny Greenhalgh
2007 - Van Stokes
2006 - Steve Silver
2005 - Al Bevilacqua
2004 - Jeff Levitetz
2003 - Set Agonian
2002 - Al Kastl
2001 - James Ravannack
2000 - Rulon Gardner
1999 - Duane Morgan
1998 - Scott Beck
1997 - Rick Tucci
1996 - Dave Schultz
1995 - Leroy Evans
1994 - James E. Scherr
1993 - Arthur J. Martori
1992 - Bruce Baumgartner
1990 - Eugene Barone
1989 - John Vaughan
1987 - Dave Rudrud
1986 - Jeff Blatnick
1985 - Dr. Dan Gould
1984 - Gary Thompson
1983 - Don Sondgeroth
1982 - Frank Rader
1981 - John Roberts
1980 - Rick Bay
1979 - Ben Bennett
1978 - Werner Holzer
1977 - Vince Zuaro
1976 - Ken Kraft
1974-75 - Russ Hellickson
1973 - Jack Stanbro
1972 - Melvin Jones
1971 - Bud Linholm
1970 - Rex Peery
Bill Zadick of Colorado Springs, Colo. has been named the Myron Roderick Man of the Year by USA Wrestling, the national governing body for wrestling in the United States. This award recognizes an outstanding man for his contributions to the sport of wrestling.
The award is named in memory of the late Myron Roderick, one of the most influential figures in American wrestling history, a man who made an amazing impact as an athlete, college coach, administrator and visionary. Roderick was one of the founding fathers of USA Wrestling, developing from the U.S. Wrestling Federation of the late 1960s to what it has become today.
In 2017, Zadick completed his first year as USA Wrestling’s National Freestyle Coach, and led the team to World Team Title at the World Championships in Paris, France. With the title race going down to the last match, Kyle Snyder won a battle of Olympic champions over Abdulrashid Sadulaev of Russia for the 97 kg gold medal and the USA defeated Russia by one point.
It was the first Freestyle World Title for Team USA in 22 years, going back to the 1995 Worlds in Atlanta, Ga. Six U.S. team members won medals, with two golds (Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Snyder), two silvers (Thomas Gilman and James Green) and two bronzes (J’den Cox and Nick Gwiazdowski).
In his role overseeing the freestyle program at all levels, Zadick and his staff also produced one of the greatest years in USA Wrestling age-group history. The U.S. Junior World freestyle team also won the team title, led by seven medalists, including three individual champions. It was the first time that Team USA won the Junior Worlds in over 30 years.
At the 2018 Cadet World Championships, Team USA placed a strong second, with six medalists including four individual gold medalists. Team USA also had two individual medalists at the new U23 World Championships (for athletes age 18-23) and placed fourth in the team standings.
Other top achievements for Freestyle Team USA in 2017 was a second place finish at the Freestyle World Cup in Kermanshah, Iran, where the USA lost in the finals to host Iran in a dual meet which went down to the last match. The USA also won the men’s freestyle team title at the 2017 Pan American Championships held in Salvador, Brazil, led by seven individual medalists, including five champions.
“Clearly from a performance standpoint, it was a great year in men’s freestyle. It was our highest performance ever with our Senior and Junior World Teams winning team titles. It was one of the highest performances ever for our Cadet team in history, battling for the team title right to the end and taking second. We have added some great staff with Joe Russell and Kevin Jackson, who have been fantastic help for the program. It is a tremendous honor and really humbling. So many people contribute towards this, our RTCs, the personal coaches, the athletes, the current and former Team Leaders, our staff and many others. It is a team effort. I can’t accept an award like this without contributions from so many other people,” said Zadick.
Zadick was named the 2017 U.S. Olympic Committee Olympic Coach of the Year. He became the first USA Wrestling coach to win the USOC Olympic Coach of the Year award, and only the second U.S. wrestling coach to win any national award given by the USOC.
Bill Zadick first joined USA Wrestling in the position of Resident Coordinator and Assistant National Freestyle Coach in January 2009. He was a liaison between the U.S. Olympic Training Center and the resident athletes in all three styles and was also part of the national freestyle coaching staff.
Zadick was promoted to the position of National Freestyle Developmental Coach and Assistant National Freestyle Coach in September 2010. He oversaw the programs intended to improve the quality and quantity of men's freestyle athletes prior to the Senior level, working with age-group World Teams and programs.
During his four years working with the USA age-group teams (2011-2014), the USA won eight Cadet World medals, nine Junior World medals and 10 medals at the University Worlds or University World Games. Included were Cadet World champions Adam Coon, Zain Retherford, Aaron Pico, Spencer Lee, Mason Manville and Mark Hall, Junior World champion Kyle Snyder and University World champions Tyler Caldwell and Tyrell Fortune. In 2014, the U.S. age group World Teams reached new levels of success in freestyle, with the Cadets placing third in the World, the Juniors placing second in the World and the University team winning the World title.
In 2015, Zadick’s duties as Assistant National Coach were changed, where he focused upon the athletes and teams on the Senior level, working directly with National Coach Bruce Burnett working with the elite Senior athletes in all areas. He was part of the coaching staff at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships, where the United States won three medals, led by World champions Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Snyder. The USA also won the medal count at the 2015 Pan American Games with six medals, led by champions Brent Metcalf, Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Snyder and Zach Rey.
Prior to joining USA Wrestling, Zadick served as a volunteer assistant coach for the University of Iowa wrestling team for two seasons (2003-04).
Zadick was one of the nation’s best wrestlers on the youth, college and international levels before his coaching career started.
Zadick reached the top of the freestyle wrestling world in 2006, when he won a World gold medal at 66 kg/145.5 pounds in Guangzhou, China. His younger brother Mike won a silver medal at 60 kg/132 pounds at the 2006 World Championships, making them the first U.S. brothers to reach the World finals on the same year since Tom and Terry Brands in 1993. Zadick was a U.S. Olympic Training Center Resident athlete from 2004-2008, where his freestyle career flourished on the mat.
Zadick also competed in the 2001 World Championships, placing seventh. He was a runner-up at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in 2000 and 2008. He was a three-time U.S. Nationals runner-up (2003, 2006, 2008) and a two-time World Team Trials runner-up (1999, 2002). Zadick won a bronze medal at the 2007 Pan American Championships, and won the Sunkist Kids International Open in 1997 and 1998.
He won a NCAA Div. I title for the Univ. of Iowa in 1996 and was a two-time All-American, competing for the legendary Dan Gable. Zadick won a Big Ten title and posted a career record of 87-13 with 16 pins. Zadick earned a B.A. in art from the University of Iowa in 1996.
Originally from Great Falls, Montana, Zadick won four high school state titles for Great Falls High School (1988-91). He was active in USA Wrestling's age-group programs as a youth and through college.
PAST USA WRESTLING MAN OF THE YEAR WINNERS
2017 – Bill Zadick
2016 – Kyle Snyder
2015 – Bruce Burnett
2014 – Andy Barth
2013 – Bill Scherr
2012 – Jordan Burroughs
2011 – Dave Barry
2010 – Mike Novogratz
2009 – Greg Strobel
2008 - Sonny Greenhalgh
2007 - Van Stokes
2006 - Steve Silver
2005 - Al Bevilacqua
2004 - Jeff Levitetz
2003 - Set Agonian
2002 - Al Kastl
2001 - James Ravannack
2000 - Rulon Gardner
1999 - Duane Morgan
1998 - Scott Beck
1997 - Rick Tucci
1996 - Dave Schultz
1995 - Leroy Evans
1994 - James E. Scherr
1993 - Arthur J. Martori
1992 - Bruce Baumgartner
1990 - Eugene Barone
1989 - John Vaughan
1987 - Dave Rudrud
1986 - Jeff Blatnick
1985 - Dr. Dan Gould
1984 - Gary Thompson
1983 - Don Sondgeroth
1982 - Frank Rader
1981 - John Roberts
1980 - Rick Bay
1979 - Ben Bennett
1978 - Werner Holzer
1977 - Vince Zuaro
1976 - Ken Kraft
1974-75 - Russ Hellickson
1973 - Jack Stanbro
1972 - Melvin Jones
1971 - Bud Linholm
1970 - Rex Peery
