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Former coaches Casey Fredericks and Chris Ford still support the wrestling team, decades after they passed on the title of head coach. The coaches lend their resources to the team both financially and through interactions with wrestlers and coaching staff.
Fredericks coached the men's wrestling team from 1948 to 1976. However, his experience with wrestling goes far beyond coaching.
"I had so much wrestling from 1932 in high school all the way up till when I retired," Fredericks said. "And finally, one day I said, 'I'm tired. I want a rest.'"
Fredericks certainly had a lot of experience in wrestling. After winning two Indiana state championships at Hammond High School, Fredericks wrestled for Purdue. On the roster from 1940 to 1942, he won two Big Ten championships, two All-American honors, and a national title.
During Fredericks' 28 years as head wrestling coach, the Buckeyes took home the 1951 Big Ten championship. The OSU program under Fredericks produced seven Big Ten individual titles, six All-Americans as well as one individual national champion, Dave Reinbolt, in 1966.
After 32 years, Fredericks still financially supports the team and helps as needed.
"I help all I possibly can with money, and if they call me, I can give recommendations," Fredericks said. "I try to not get involved in the wrestling."
Coach Ford took over coaching operations in 1976 after Fredericks retired. Like Fredericks, Ford produced a number of individual wrestling titles.
Five wrestlers were honored with All-American status under Ford, including Jude Skove who won the national title in 1986. Ford's coaching also produced two individual Big Ten titles.
Ford coached for 10 seasons and achieved a winning record of 115-92-3.
Ford, who now serves as compliance officer for a financial services company, still actively supports the team.
"I talk with coach (Tom) Ryan quite a bit. I go to the matches and talk to the kids and that type of thing," Ford said. "I'm not involved in the coaching end anymore."
Both former coaches said a lot has changed for the better in the program.
"I'm glad to see that the athletic department has made the commitment to wrestling that has been needed over the years."
Ford said that the commitment has strengthened the school's pull for Ohio's wrestling talent, which has solidified OSU's national ranking in recent years. OSU finished second at the 2008 NCAA championships.
Both Ford and Fredericks said the advent of full wrestling scholarships and better training facilities have been welcomed changes.
"Before that, we were just on our own and we would find jobs for the kids and things in that line." Fredericks said. "Now they get help for all of them."
"Fredericks and I used the same room that, when they built Larkins Hall, was used for wrestling in 1920," Ford said. "It didn't even have a full-sized mat in it."
Both coaches said the wrestling program meant a lot to them.
"To be able to talk to the kids on the team that they know me and I know them," Ford said. "That's a good feeling after 23 years from being away."
Patrick Reilly can be reached at reilly.60@osu.edu.
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