Lifetime Service Dr. Robert W. Koehler is a product of Dubuque Senior High School in Dubuque, Iowa "” Class of 1945. Today Dr. Robert Koehler holds degrees from Wartburg College, Colorado State College of Education and the University of Utah. His coaching career began in 1953 when he established the wrestling program at Northwood Community High School in Northwood, Iowa. In 1957 Robert moved on to West Rockford High School where he, once again, instituted a new wrestling program. In 1961 his career took him to Illinois State Normal University where he served two years as the assistant wrestling coach. In 1963 Robert assumed the position of Head Wrestling Coach at Illinois State University; a position he would not relinquish until 1975. During his tenure as the Head Coach, ISU participated in the NAIA National Tournament in Spearfish, South Dakota, won the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Wrestling Championships in 1964, 1965, 1966, and 1968. In the last seven years that ISU participated in the IIAC, they "” under Robert's guidance "” won the conference title five times while finishing second the other two years. For his efforts Robert Koehler was one of four coaches in the country nominated as the NCAA Division II Coach-of-the-Year in 1964. His teams won 103 dual meets, while losing 39 and tying 5. ISU squads under Koehler's guidance were ranked in the top ten 8 of the 10 years he led the team; ISU was ranked in the top twenty every year of his coaching career. He coached fifteen individual NCAA All-Americans, including two National Champions. A number of his athletes went on to make their mark as successful coaches in their own right: Willie Williams, Ron Bessemer, Mike Manahan, Rick Mann, Bill Rumchak, Jerry Angeloff, John Bauer, Perry Giardini, Gary Giardini, Dennis Riccio and Fred Murino. Dr. Koehler did not relegate himself solely to the world of coaching; his talents took him to the realm of officiating also. As an official Robert worked at various levels of competition. He officiated at the high school level in both Utah and Illinois. In Illinois he officiated from 1957 through 1976, working dual meets as well as IHSA Districts (now Regionals), Sectionals and several State Finals. On the collegiate level Robert worked the Great Plains Tournament in LaGrange, Illinois as well as dual meets in the Western Athletic Conference in Utah. Listed amongst his various other honors and accomplishments are: "¢ National Association for Sport and Physical Education consultant on wrestling to the Confederacion Deportive Mexico in 1974 and 1975 "¢ Delegate to the Scientific Congress in Quebec, Canada in 1976 "¢ Served as the Director of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Graduate Studies for ISU from 1978-1988 "¢ Organized and directed the II National Olympic Academy for the USOC held in Normal in 1978 "¢ Delegate to the International Olympic Academy in Olympia, Greece in 1979 "¢ Elected to the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Hall of Fame in 1992 "¢ Dubuque Senior High School Hall of Fame in 1993 "¢ Elected to the Bloomington-Normal Officials Association Hall of Fame in 1996 "¢ Federation Internationale D'education Physique in 2004 Dr. Robert Koehler is also a member of the following professional/public organizations: "¢ Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association "¢ Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance as Past-President and retiree "¢ Veterans of Foreign Wars "¢ The American Legion "¢ The China Marine Association