One of the great pioneers and innovators of Minnesota High School Wrestling is former Coon Rapids High School Wrestling Coach Bob Board, who retired in 1997 after 38 years in coaching.

When looking at the long distinguished career of Bob Board, the first thing that comes to surface is his exceptional personality.

"Bob Board is a real gentleman, a coach's coach," says longtime friend and former college wrestling teammate Don Meyers.

Board started the wrestling program at Coon Rapids High School when it opened its doors in l962, and proceeded to coach the next 34 years there.

Friend and colleague at Coon Rapids, Roger Gorham, said: "Bob was one of the most respected staff members in the school."

Even with the success he experienced as a coach, his associates always focus on his commitment Board had toward kids. Everything Bob did was trying to improve the kid, explained long time assistant Marlyn Hyland.

Bob amassed impressive credentials.

His coaching career record ranks him among the Top 10 all-time in Minnesota with a 411 wins and 138 losses. He coached Coon Rapids to a sixth-place finish at the Class AA Large School state tournament in 1986. The Cards also consistently finished first, second or third in their conference while competing with the likes of powerful programs such as Anoka and Forest Lake.

Board coached Tom Hall, Tim Koffski and Tom Swenson to Minnesota state titles while former wrestlers Gary Swenson and Bobby Adams won national titles at St. John's University and Augsburg College, respectively, and many others earned All-America honors.

Inducted into the Dave Bartelma Minnesota Wrestling Hall of Fame in l973, Board served as president of his coach's organization in 1971 and again in 1990.

As an athlete, Board and his brother Dick both won state championships for Anoka High School in 1955, becoming the first brothers in Minnesota history to win state wrestling titles in the same year. Bob was a three-time state place-winner with a second-place finish in 1953 and a third-place finish in 1954.

Board went on to wrestle at the University of Minnesota and helped the Gophers win the Big Ten team title in 1957.

Foremost of Board's accomplishments was his contributions to wrestling.

"Bob is responsible for developing the state brunch, the 'region reps' concept, the Grand March, the Hall of Fame, and even fundraising projects such as the mags and pins that are sold today," said wrestling great Don Meyers. "His innovations helped increase state tournament attendance from a little over 20,000 to 65,000 in our peak year. Board is one of those original individuals from the first state tournament committee responsible for these improvements."

Board is one of the great people within the sport of wrestling.

His presence and participation in the development of young men and Minnesota high school wrestling will be remembered and endured for many years to come.