Bob Siddens, a Distinguished Member inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1980, passed away on Thursday, at the age of 93.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Locke Funeral Home in Waterloo, Iowa.

“Bob Siddens is one of the greatest high school coaches of all time,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. “He created a culture of excellence among his student wrestlers at Waterloo West High School that created not only an Iowa high school wrestling dynasty, but also produced multiple alumni who went on to win NCAA individual titles and Olympic medals.

[caption id="attachment_16287" align="alignleft" width="300"] Dan Gable (left) and Bob Siddens (right) were both inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as Distinguished Members in 1980.[/caption]

“It is rare for someone who enjoyed so much success as a coach to crossover and become a successful referee at the highest level of our sport,” Smith added. “His demeanor and values, both on and off the mat, set the standards for sportsmanship and integrity.”

“Sadly, my high school coach, and one of the greatest influences in my life, Bob Siddens, passed away,” said Dan Gable, who was an undefeated three-time Iowa state champion for Siddens at Waterloo West High School and who was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member the same year as his coach. “I sincerely believe that of all the people I’ve been associated with, Bob Siddens has been the biggest factor in building my desire and attitude in wrestling. Just one big ‘Thank You’ to him for helping me set my lifestyle as well.”

Siddens was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum’s Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa in 2003. The Glen Brand Hall of Fame created the Bob Siddens Iowa High School Coaching Excellence Award, which is presented annually to an Iowa high school coach, in 2012 and Siddens was the inaugural recipient.

The Main Gymnasium at Waterloo West High School was renamed Robert S. Siddens Gymnasium in 1996. The gymnasium is the original facility constructed in 1955 when West High was built.

He will always be remembered as "Dan Gable's coach," which isn't a bad way to be remembered. But there's much, much more to the outstanding career of Siddens.

As a high school coach of exceptional stature, as a nationally recognized referee, as a respected clinician both on technique and on officiating, as an author, teacher and counselor, he made notable contributions to the sport for three decades.

He was a successful wrestler at Eagle Grove High School in Iowa, then at the University of Northern Iowa, where he helped launch the Panthers to national prominence. Upon graduation, he coached one year at Eagle Grove, then embarked on a 27-year term at Waterloo West.

His teams won 327 dual meets, 88 in a row, and lost only 26 while having 14 undefeated seasons. The Wahawks won 11 state team championships and placed second or third 10 other times. He coached 51 individual state champions and 33 more state finalists. During that span, high school wrestling in the state of Iowa grew from 28 schools to more than 300.

Siddens' wrestlers went on to capture 19 individual Big Eight titles, nine NCAA individual championships and an Olympic gold medal. In the 1968 collegiate nationals, two of his proteges, Dale Anderson of Michigan State and Gable of Iowa State, won consecutive NCAA crowns.

Long respected as one of the nation's finest collegiate referees, he officiated 26 NCAA championships, more than any other official at the time. He traveled thousands of miles to conduct clinics for wrestlers and for officials, and published many articles on the sport.