Ted DeRousse of Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Wrestling's Manager of State Services, has announced his retirement from the USA Wrestling national staff.

DeRousse, who has worked in the State Services Department of USA Wrestling since 1993, will begin his retirement in mid-April. He will remain involved in a number of USA Wrestling activities in the upcoming months as part of a transition process, while USA Wrestling conducts a national search for a new employee in the position.

A retirement celebration for DeRousse will be held during the 2006 ASICS/Vaughan Junior and Cadet Nationals in Fargo, N.D. in July. Many of Ted's friends and colleagues from the grass roots programs of USA Wrestling will have an opportunity to thank him for his distinguished and dedicated service to the sport and to the organization.

Ted intends to spend his retirement in Colorado Springs with my wife Gail.

"Ted has been a wonderful asset to USA Wrestling and the sport," said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. "We all wish the best to Ted and his family as he begins to enjoy his retirement. We are fortunate that Ted plans to remain involved in wrestling in the future. The sport of wrestling is better today because of Ted DeRousse."

"Ted DeRousse has made great contributions for the last 13 years to USA Wrestling's success on the grass roots levels," said Mark Scott, Director of State Services. "His knowledge and experience as the former state chairperson in Illinois brought a unique and special expertise to the organization. USA Wrestling appreciates his achievements and service to the sport, and the impact that he has left behind."

For the last 41 years, my life has been associated with wrestling in many ways," said Ted DeRousse. "Most of all it has been positive and enduring because of the people I have been associated with and the power of the sport of wrestling. From my first day of wrestling practice to the weary goodbyes of thousands of volunteers as we closed down another successful tournament, it has been a journey of immense pride. It is pride in the people I have been involved with, the organizations I have been associated with and the strength and patience of my family.  It has been a journey that is never ending as there is always one more thing I need to do in wrestling."

In his job as State Services Manager, DeRousse worked closely with many volunteers within USA Wrestling on the regional, state and local levels, assisting them in their efforts to provide quality wrestling programs at all levels. He helped manage numerous USA Wrestling national and regional events during his tenure at USA Wrestling. One of his major achievements was his work on the annual State Leaders Conference, where volunteer leaders from across the nation meet for seminars and workshops to improve their skills and build their programs.

Prior to joining the national staff, DeRousse was best known for his service to the sport as the State Chairperson in Illinois for USA Wrestling from 1974-1993. During those 19 years, the state association grew from 2,500 to more than 10,000 members. Illinois had the second largest membership of all state associations and one of the most active state programs. He was named USA Wrestling State Chairman of the Year in 1981.

He was Chairperson of the USA Wrestling Kids/Cadet Division, and served on the USA Wrestling Board of Directors. He was a member of USA Wrestling committees that selected the Olympic coaching staff in 1984 and 1988. DeRousse also helped develop the dual meet championship event that later became the USA Wrestling National Junior Duals.

DeRousse was the first Commissioner for Wrestling with the Prairie State Games, and since moving to Colorado has served as the Commissioner for Wrestling with the Rocky Mountain State Games.

DeRousse first got involved in wrestling as a high school athlete at Libertyville-Fremont High School in Illinois. He attended the Univ. of Illinois from 1959-1963, where he competed on the wrestling team. He received a bachelor's degree from the Univ. of Illinois, a master's degree from Northern Illinois Univ. and a CAS degree from the Univ. of Illinois.

He served two years as an officer in the U.S. Army, as a first lieutenant, stationed at Scott Air Force Base in Mascoutah, Ill. When his military stint was completed, DeRousse became an educator, his career until he retired from teaching in 1993. He served two terms as president of the Antioch Community High School NEA Union.

He was assistant wrestling coach at Lake Zurich High School from 1965-67, then served as head wrestling coach at Antioch Community High School from 1967-1993. He won more than 300 dual meets as Antioch's coach, developing numerous champion athletes. When he retired from coaching, he was among the top 10 winning coaches in IHSA wrestling history. He also coached football and track at Antioch Community High School. 

He was inducted into the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Hall of Fame in 1978 and into the Illinois chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002. He was recently inducted into the Antioch Community High School Hall of Fame in 2005.

He has four children, Laura, Tad, David and Brett, five grandchildren and another grandchild on the way.

USA Wrestling has begun a search for a Manager of State Services, with a job announcement to be published shortly. Visit TheMat.com for more details.