Ivan Ivanov (Boise, Idaho/Suples WC/USOEC) has been named 2009 Greco-Roman Coach of the Year by USA Wrestling. It is the first time in his career that Ivanov has won this prestigious honor. Ivan Ivanov served as the head coach of the U.S. Olympic Education Center (USOEC) program for Greco-Roman wrestling at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Mich., through October 2009. Considered one of the top Greco-Roman wrestling coaches in the world, Ivanov served over seven years as the head coach of the USOEC program, developing numerous national champions and All-Americans on the Senior and age-group levels within USA Wrestling. Three USOEC athletes earned spots on the 2009 Greco-Roman World Team for the World Championships: Spenser Mango (55 kg), Harry Lester (74 kg) and Chas Betts (84 kg). Ivanov was a member of the 2009 U.S. World Team coaching staff, working with the three USOEC athletes and the rest of the team. Seven USOEC athletes coached by Ivanov won 2009 age-group national titles including five at University Nationals and two at FILA Junior Nationals. Ivanov created the Suples WC in Boise in the fall of 2009, which has grown quickly since its inception. Ivanov is currently training a number of elite Senior-level athletes in Boise, most who are out of college and pursuing international Greco-Roman goals. Among those who are training with Ivanov are three 2010 U.S. Open champions: Jake Fisher at 74 kg, Cheney Haight at 84 kg and Justin Ruiz at 96 kg. He is also helping develop young wrestlers in the community who compete in Greco-Roman, freestyle and folkstyle wrestling. Among his star pupils at the USOEC were Lester, a two-time World bronze medalist, and Mango, a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. An athlete who also worked with Ivanov at Northern Michigan was 2008 Olympic Greco-Roman bronze medalist Adam Wheeler. Ivanov came to the USOEC program after working as the coach for three years with the Treehouse Athletic Club in Utah. Ivanov has coached numerous USA Wrestling Greco-Roman All-Americans on the age-group level from the Treehouse Athletic Club. Prior to joining the Treehouse Athletic Club, Ivanov served as a coach with USA Wrestling as part of the U.S. Olympic Training Center resident program in Colorado Springs, Colo. Ivanov is a Gold-Level certified coach in USA Wrestling's National Coaches Eduation Program. He has coached a number of U.S. teams in international competition. Ivanov was the assistant coach of the 2001 U.S. Junior World Greco-Roman team. Ivanov received a diploma as a wrestling instructor from the Bulgarian Army Sports Program, where he also trained as a world-class athlete. Ivanov was a silver medalist at the 1994 Greco-Roman World Championships at 136.5 pounds. He placed fifth in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, and was fourth in the 1995 European Championships. PAST GRECO-ROMAN COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS 2009 – Ivan Ivanov, Boise, Idaho, Suples WC and USOEC 2008 - Brandon Paulson, Anoka, Minn., Minnesota Storm 2007 - Jay Antonelli, Chesapeake, Va., U.S Marines 2006 - Shon Lewis, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army 2005 - Shawn Sheldon, West Palm Beach, Fla., New York AC 2004 - Andy Seras, Sandy Hook, Conn., Sunkist Kids 2003 - Shon Lewis, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army 2002 - Shon Lewis, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army 2001 - Andy Seras, Sandy Hook, Conn., Sunkist Kids 2000 - Dan Chandler, Minneapolis, Minn., Minnesota Storm 1999 - Dan Chandler, Minneapolis, Minn., Minnesota Storm 1998 - Jay Antonelli, Quantico, Va., U.S. Marines 1997 - Dan Chandler, Minneapolis, Minn., Minnesota Storm 1996 - Rob Hermann, Pensacola, Fla., U.S. Navy 1995 - Dan Chandler, Minneapolis, Minn., Minnesota Storm 1994 - Dan Chandler, Minneapolis, Minn., Minnesota USA Wrestling 1993 - Tony Thomas, Fort Benning, Ga., U.S. Army 1992 - Rob Hermann, Pensacola, Fla., U.S. Navy