After a motorcycle accident in 2002 left him a quadriplegic, Randy Bortles could have abandoned the sport that he had been involved with his entire life. He refused to let that happen, and many believe that he has done more for wrestling since his accident than he did before it.

Following the accident, Bortles spent five years as an assistant coach at Mountain View High School before turning his focus towards helping other areas of wrestling. He headed the coalition to bring college wrestling back to Georgia, and has led the implementation of programs at Shorter University (NCAA DII), Emmanuel College (NCAA DII), Brewton Parker (NAIA), Life University (NAIA), and Truett-McConnell College (NAIA).

He has worked with the Atlanta Takedown Association to host the Georgia Intercollegiate tournament, and has been co-tournament director for the Team Georgia USA Wrestling State Championships, an annual 32-mat tournament in the Georgia Dome. Bortles also serves on numerous boards of organizations that are focused on the growth and success of wrestling.

He wrestled at Phoenix High School in New York and later attended Auburn Community College and Brockport State University. He began coaching at Baldwinsville High School in New York, assisting Leo Johnson, who was named the National High School Wrestling Coach of the Year in 1980. Bortles moved to Georgia in 1981 and coached at Newnan High School, McIntosh High School in Peachtree City, and Wheeler High School in Marietta.

After Georgia USA Wrestling hosted a team from New Zealand in the mid 1980’s, Bortles was asked to go to New Zealand to coach their national teams. Following a year in New Zealand, he returned to Georgia and was a co-founder of the Metro Atlanta Wrestling Officials in 1994. He officiated Georgia High School Association events and NCAA meets, and continues to mentor the more than 100 members of the Metro Atlanta Wrestling Officials Association.

The Georgia State Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame presented Bortles with its Medal of Courage award in 2005.