Induction Sport Role

2014 Wrestling Coach

After graduating from West Liberty, Coach T began to look for a teaching/coaching position. Don Hertler, former successful head football coach of North Canton Hoover High School, contacted him. He was recommended by superintendent E.R. Malone, then employed by the North Canton Board of Education in September 1966, replacing a very successful Paul McDonald who took a teaching/coaching position at Adrian College in Michigan.

Coach Tolarchyk was employed in 1966 to lead the North Canton Wrestling program which he did as the head wrestling coach for the next 27 years. Under the guidance of Coach Tolarchyk, the wrestling program continued to be very successful with a dual meet record of 347 wins, 42 losses, and 3 ties. They have had 10 undefeated teams and have been federal league champions 17 times in 23 years. The Hoover wrestlers had won 15 sectional championships, were sectional district champions 4 times, Regional champions in 1984, and Ohio State team runners-up in Division I in both 1982 and 1983.

Coach T's coaching honors include: 10x League Coach of the Year, 14x County Coach of the Year, Ohio AAA Coach of the Year 1983, Ohio High School Wrestling Hall of Fame 1985, Honored by Upper Ohio Valley Dapper Dan Club 1984, West Liberty State College Athletic Hall of Fame 1990, National Wrestling Hall of Fame Lifetime Service Award 1994, and Bridgeport High School Athletic Hall of Fame 2011.