Randall named USA Wrestling Developmental Coach of the Year
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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
07/21/2002
Archie Randall of Yukon, Okla. has been named 2002 USA Wrestling Developmental Coach of the Year. The award honors the top coach in the nation working with age-group wrestlers and programs. Randall, one of the most successful high school wrestling coaches in the nation, has been a tremendous leader on the national level within USA Wrestling. He works as the head wrestling coach, assistant athletic director and assistant football coach at El Reno High School. The El Reno varsity wrestling team has been ranked nationally in the Top 25 for the last five years, and has held the No. 1 ranking in Oklahoma for seven years. His teams have won seven state team titles and seven dual meet state team titles. Competing for Randall, his El Reno athletes have won 33 Oklahoma state individual titles. His dual meet record from 1993-2002 stands at 133-11. Randall has served as USA Wrestling's State Chairperson in Oklahoma since 1989, and was named USA Wrestling State Chairperson of the Year in 1997. Under his leadership, Oklahoma has increased its membership in coaches, athletes, clubs and officials. He has developed state training camps for the Junior, Cadet and Kids levels. He was named Southern Plains Regional Developmental Caoch of the Year in 1998, and Southern Plains State Chairperson of the Year in 1997. He has served as a coach for Oklahoma teams that have competed in numerous national events, including the Cadet and Junior National Championships, as well as the Cadet and Junior National Duals. Randall served as Oklahoma's Cadet head coach in 1987-88, and set a state record of 20 Cadet All-Americans in one year. He was also a member of the 1987-89 Oklahoma Junior National coaching staff. Under his leadership, Oklahoma teams claimed the championship title at the Junior National Duals in freestyle eight times (1993, 1995-2000, 2002). In addition, Oklahoma was the Cadet National Duals freestyle champion in 2000. Oklahoma teams have also been unofficial champions at the Junior Nationals in freestyle. He has won numerous awards for his coaching abilities. Five times, he was named Coach of the Year by the Oklahoma Coaches Association. In 2002, he was named National Federation of Coaches Sectional Coach of the Year, as well as the Oklahoma Wrestling Officials Coach of the Year. He has also been the National Wrestling Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year twice (1998, 2000), as well as 1999 Wrestling USA Magazine Coach of the Year. His commitment to the National Junior Dual Meet Championships has helped build this event into one of the nation's premier youth wrestling competitions. He served as the Tournament Director of National Junior Duals nine times (1993-94, 1996-2002). In 2002, he also served as the Tournament Director for the USA Wrestling National Kids Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships. Randall has served on numerous USA Wrestling committees, including the Junior Olympic Committee and the Marketing Committee. Developmental Coach of the Year 1989 - Al Kastl, Michigan 1990 - Kevin McCleary, Pennsylvania 1991 - J. D. Robbins, California 1992 - Tony Jones, Oregon 1993 - Morrie Geselter, Illinois 1994 - Jerry Kuntz, Oklahoma 1995 - Mike Hagerty, Missouri 1996 - Bob Kopnisky, Indiana 1997 - John Leone, New York 1998 - Mike Rial, Iowa 1999 - Greg Strobel, Pennsylvania 2000 - John Hohman, Pennsylvania 2001 - Randy Baker, Minnesota 2002 - Archie Randall, Oklahoma