Strobel elected to National Wrestling Hall of Fame
11/21/2011 8:56:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Former Lehigh head coach Greg Strobel is one of four men who have been elected as distinguished members to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, it was announced on Monday. Strobel was a standout wrestler for Oregon State before becoming a successful coach at the college and international level.
Strobel was hired to guide the Lehigh wrestling program in the spring of 1995 and in 13 seasons he guided the Brown and White to one of its most successful runs in program history. He posted a 189-83-1 dual meet record, good for the second most wins in school annals, and led the Mountain Hawks to six EIWA team titles including a string of five straight from 2002-2006. Strobel's Lehigh teams finished in the to
p ten at the NCAA Championships six times, led by the 2004 squad which tied for third place with five All-Americans. For his efforts in the 2003-04 season, Strobel was named the NWCA National Coach of the Year.
p ten at the NCAA Championships six times, led by the 2004 squad which tied for third place with five All-Americans. For his efforts in the 2003-04 season, Strobel was named the NWCA National Coach of the Year.A four-time EIWA Coach of the Year, Strobel guided his wrestlers to 28 individual EIWA titles and 30 All-American medals. Strobel coached two NCAA Champions, Rob Rohn in 2002 and Troy Letters in 2004.
On the international circuit, Strobel was one of USA Wrestling's most successful freestyle coaches. He was a co-coach for the 2000 U.S. Olympic Freestyle team and an assistant with the 1996 Olympic team. He also coached internationally in several U.S. World teams plus the 1997 U.S. World Cup team, 1997 U.S. Junior World team and the 1994 U.S. Goodwill Games team.
He was named the 1997 USA Wrestling's Freestyle Coach of the Year and 1999 Developmental Coach of the Year. He is the first to receive both Developmental and Senior coach of the year honors.
Strobel came to Lehigh after serving as wrestling coach for the Team Foxcatcher club program in Pennsylvania.
From 1983-1991 Strobel was the Director of National Team Programs for USA Wrestling, which included a stint as National Freestyle Coach from 1987-88.
A 1975 graduate of Oregon State, Strobel received his bachelor's degree and master's in business education. Strobel earned NCAA titles in 1973 and 1974 while wrestling at 190 pounds and was fifth in 1972. In 1973 he was named the tournament's outstanding wrestler. He compiled a 126-7-1 record from 1972-74 and still holds the school record for consecutive wins with 74. Strobel won three Pacific 8 Conference championships and earned an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholar-Athlete Award in 1975.
Strobel continues to work in the Lehigh Athletics department, serving as Assistant Athletic Director for Camps and External Relations.
Joining Strobel as distinguished members in the class of 2012 are Fred Fozzard, who was one of the United States' first world champions in freestyle; 1999 world champion Stephen Neal, who went on to win three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots; and Chris Taylor, a two-time NCAA Champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist, who at over 400 pounds was the heaviest competitor in Olympic history.
Strobel and the rest of the class of 2012 will be formally inducted at the Honors Weekend Banquet and Induction Ceremony in Stillwater, Oklahoma, June 1-2, 2012.
Lehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Wednesday, March 12
Lehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Thursday, February 20
Lehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Wednesday, December 04
Season Preview: Wrestling
Wednesday, October 30
