JimAllbaugh.jpgJim Allbaugh was born on July 27, 1946 in Richland Center, Wisconsin. He was raised on the Homestead farm by his parents, Bob and Marguerite along with younger sisters Peggy and Mary.

He went to Ekelberry School, a one-room first through eighth grade country school. Through 1960-64 he attended Richland Center High School, lettering in Football, Wrestling, and Track. A solid foundation in wrestling was set by his high school coaches, Vern Peiper, Al Bauman, and Norris Hattelstad, all three Hall of Fame Coaches.

After high school graduation, Jim graduated from Richland County Teachers College in 1966. He began his teaching and coaching career in 1966 at the age of 19 at Ithaca Public School. As Head Coach from 1969-74, the wrestling teams were 66-12-2. The first Junior High Wrestling Tournament in Wisconsin began at Ithaca. The first Grappalettes Club in Wisconsin was started at Ithaca, a girl?s club designed to help promote wrestling. During this time through summer schools and night classes, Jim obtained his Bachelor?s Degree in Elementary Education at the University of Wisconsin - Platteville.

In the fall of 1974, Jim was hired at the University of Wisconsin - Richland in Richland Center, Wisconsin. His position was Health and Physical Education teacher, Athletic Director, Head Wrestling Coach, and Head Cross-Country Coach.

In 1978, Paul Nooyen from Spring Green, Wisconsin became the first Wisconsin wrestler to win a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) title at 177 pounds. The team won the Wisconsin Junior College state title and Jim had the honor being chosen the (WJACC) "Wrestling Coach of the Year". Jim and over 100 volunteers began a late winter youth wrestling tournament. It grew to be the largest in Wisconsin and the Midwest with over 1,200 wrestlers from five states and Canada.

While at the University, Jim was chosen in several leadership capacities. Some of them were: President of the National Junior College Wrestling Coaches for Region XIII 1978-79; President of National Junior College Athletic Association 1978-79; Chairman of Wisconsin Collegiate Conference Athletic Directors 1978-79. During this time at UW-Richland Jim completed his Masters Degree in Health and Physical Education at Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota.

During the 1982-83 school year, Jim was the first wrestling coach at the University of Wisconsin- Green Bay, unfortunately the program was discontinued.

In 1984, Jim was hired by the Shawano Public Schools to teach middle school Math and served as Head Wrestling Coach (1984-1994) and Head Cross-Country Coach (1986-1998). Jim coached the boy?s and girl?s varsity Cross-Country and the teams went from 9 runners to over 50 runners. Shawano won five Bay Conference titles and qualified athletes to both the State Cross-Country and State Wrestling meets in the same years, 1992 and 1994. This was the only time in school history to have the same coach in two separate sports accomplish that task.

During his tenure as Shawano wrestling coach, promotion of the sport was paramount. An exciting slide/music/light introduction was created to develop excitement at the introductions for dual meets. In 1986 we started the Shawano Holiday Classic Tournament. For the finals we turned down the lights and developed a Parade of Champions, a format later introduced to the WIAA State Wrestling Finals.

During his time at Shawano, Jim served on the WIAA Wrestling Advisory Board from 1986-1990 and also served of the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Executive Committee from 1986-1990. As District 2 Representative, it allowed Jim to serve Wisconsin wrestling and add input to improve the sport. Without hesitation, Jim would say being involved with the original group that developed the 7% Rule in weight reduction guidelines was a highlight. Being involved with this committee allowed the Shawano High School wrestling program to be the first to implement this program. The 7% Rule is now the accepted weight reduction guideline for every high school and college in the nation. Jim received the 20 Years of Service to wrestling award from the WWCA in 1990. He was awarded the "Dedicated Teacher of the Year" in 1992 from Shawano Public Schools. Jim spent 38 years officiating WIAA and NCAA wrestling and officiated WIAA football and volleyball.

A total of 45 years of teaching and coaching at levels from elementary through college from 1966 through 2011 has truly been an honor and blessing. With this award, Jim would like to thank John Berndt, Norris Hattelstad, and Gary Gutknecht for developing and working on the nomination. Thank you to the Wrestling Coaches Association.

Thank you to the most important people in my life that allowed me to spend so much time away from home. My wife Mary, my son Todd, who is Chief of Staff for State Senator Dale Schultz, my daughter Heather, and her husband Mike, both teachers, and granddaughters Addison and Isabel, and son Mike and wife Emily. I understand this award is not about Jim Allbaugh, but the people in Jim Allbaugh?s life.

If anyone ever bestows an honor of some success my way, it is only because a friend believed in me, and I didn?t want to let him down. Abraham Lincoln