Bruce Robnett began his competitive career wrestling at Clackamas High School for HOF coach Bill Geister from 1969 to 1973. He moved to OCE (now Western Oregon University) in 1975 where he became an NAIA football All-American and got his first taste of coaching wrestling at his alma mater. Later, he joined the staff of Dennis Ingram at Barlow. Beginning in 1980, the Bruins of Barlow won 20 consecutive Mt. Hood conference championships and claimed the OSAA state titles in both 1980 and 1981. Bruce took over as head coach in 1994 and his teams were second in the state in both 1995 and 1997, third in 1998, and fourth in 1996. He coached 10 individual Oregon state champions during this period. In 1995, he was voted Oregon Coach of the Year. Bruce was chosen to lead the Oregon Cultural Exchange team to Hungary in 1999. He retired as head coach in 2002 and kept active by coaching the Sandy Middle School program for 10 years. He and wife Karen today reside on the Oregon Coast.