From the OSU SID
Corvallis, Ore. - Former Oregon State wrestling coach Joe Wells, the second-winningest coach in the 93-year history of the program, died on Thursday. He was 67.
Wells led the Beavers to a 161-94-3 record in 14 seasons from 1993-2006. He coached one NCAA champion; two Olympians; 17 All-Americans; two Olympians and 22 Pac-10 champions. His 1994 team captured the Pacific-10 Conference title and placed fourth at the NCAA championships.
"On behalf of the OSU Athletics family, we are saddened by Joe's passing," OSU Director of Athletics Bob De Carolis said. "Joe led our historic program for more than a decade, even serving the University after his retirement from coaching.
"Joe had a wonderful impact on the lives of so many young men he mentored. Sandra and I will miss our friend dearly and our thoughts are with Cindia, Kallie, Garrett and his family."
Wells never had a losing record at OSU and guided the Beavers to four top-10 finishes at the NCAA championships. He was the 1994 and 1995 Pac-10 Coach of the Year; the 1998 ASICS Oregon Wrestling Classic's Man of the Year, and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2014.
Wells was a standout competitor before entering coaching. He wrestled at Iowa and was a two-time placer at the Big Ten championships. He was also a silver medalist at the 1974 USSR National Championships at Tiblisi, Russia, and the 1976 U.S. Wrestling Federation freestyle champion.
He began his coaching career at Iowa, and then assisted at Michigan before being hired by OSU in April, 1992. He retired from coaching in 2006 after 14 seasons with the Beavers and 31 seasons overall, and then worked for the school's Bridge program, which helps build the skills students need to make a successful transition from high school to college.
"My son is going into high school next year and I thought it would be really nice to spend some time with my kids versus everybody else's kids," he said at the time. "I'm really looking forward to a new challenge.
"I'll have an opportunity to work with all student athletes and all the teams in the department and serve as a resource for the coaches."
Wells remained close to the program after retiring from coaching. He accompanied the Beavers back to St. Louis for the NCAA championships last month.
"He was a great resource and helped out the program in any way he could," current coach Jim Zalesky said. "He was always very positive, He helped me meet the right people when I first got here, and knew the right people on the academic side who could help me.
"He was great for us. Besides Dale Thomas, no other coach put in as much time for Oregon State wrestling than Joe did."
Zalesky knew Wells for nearly 40 years, dating back to his days as a high school wrestler. They met at a summer camp at Iowa, and maintained their friendship in the intervening years.
"I go a long way back with Joe, to the 1970s," Zalesky said. "He was my councilor at my first summer camp. I've known him for a long time, so it's a very sad day.
"I don't know if I'd be here if it wasn't for Joe. He was the first one to call me about this job."
Wells remained close to the program after retiring from coaching. He accompanied the team back to St. Louis for the NCAA championships last month.
"He was a great resource and helped out the program in any way he could," Zalesky said. "He was always very positive, He helped me meet the right people when I first got here, and knew the right people on the academic side who could help me. He was great for us."
Wells was the NCAA Assistant Coach of the Year in 1988 at the University of Michigan. He also assisted the 1988 U.S. Olympic team, numerous other U.S. National teams, and assisted on Iowa's 1973 and 1976 NCAA champions.
A 1972 Iowa graduate, he is survived by his wife, Cindia; a daughter, Kalli, and a son, Garrett.
Corvallis, Ore. - Former Oregon State wrestling coach Joe Wells, the second-winningest coach in the 93-year history of the program, died on Thursday. He was 67.
Wells led the Beavers to a 161-94-3 record in 14 seasons from 1993-2006. He coached one NCAA champion; two Olympians; 17 All-Americans; two Olympians and 22 Pac-10 champions. His 1994 team captured the Pacific-10 Conference title and placed fourth at the NCAA championships.
"On behalf of the OSU Athletics family, we are saddened by Joe's passing," OSU Director of Athletics Bob De Carolis said. "Joe led our historic program for more than a decade, even serving the University after his retirement from coaching.
"Joe had a wonderful impact on the lives of so many young men he mentored. Sandra and I will miss our friend dearly and our thoughts are with Cindia, Kallie, Garrett and his family."
Wells never had a losing record at OSU and guided the Beavers to four top-10 finishes at the NCAA championships. He was the 1994 and 1995 Pac-10 Coach of the Year; the 1998 ASICS Oregon Wrestling Classic's Man of the Year, and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2014.
Wells was a standout competitor before entering coaching. He wrestled at Iowa and was a two-time placer at the Big Ten championships. He was also a silver medalist at the 1974 USSR National Championships at Tiblisi, Russia, and the 1976 U.S. Wrestling Federation freestyle champion.
He began his coaching career at Iowa, and then assisted at Michigan before being hired by OSU in April, 1992. He retired from coaching in 2006 after 14 seasons with the Beavers and 31 seasons overall, and then worked for the school's Bridge program, which helps build the skills students need to make a successful transition from high school to college.
"My son is going into high school next year and I thought it would be really nice to spend some time with my kids versus everybody else's kids," he said at the time. "I'm really looking forward to a new challenge.
"I'll have an opportunity to work with all student athletes and all the teams in the department and serve as a resource for the coaches."
Wells remained close to the program after retiring from coaching. He accompanied the Beavers back to St. Louis for the NCAA championships last month.
"He was a great resource and helped out the program in any way he could," current coach Jim Zalesky said. "He was always very positive, He helped me meet the right people when I first got here, and knew the right people on the academic side who could help me.
"He was great for us. Besides Dale Thomas, no other coach put in as much time for Oregon State wrestling than Joe did."
Zalesky knew Wells for nearly 40 years, dating back to his days as a high school wrestler. They met at a summer camp at Iowa, and maintained their friendship in the intervening years.
"I go a long way back with Joe, to the 1970s," Zalesky said. "He was my councilor at my first summer camp. I've known him for a long time, so it's a very sad day.
"I don't know if I'd be here if it wasn't for Joe. He was the first one to call me about this job."
Wells remained close to the program after retiring from coaching. He accompanied the team back to St. Louis for the NCAA championships last month.
"He was a great resource and helped out the program in any way he could," Zalesky said. "He was always very positive, He helped me meet the right people when I first got here, and knew the right people on the academic side who could help me. He was great for us."
Wells was the NCAA Assistant Coach of the Year in 1988 at the University of Michigan. He also assisted the 1988 U.S. Olympic team, numerous other U.S. National teams, and assisted on Iowa's 1973 and 1976 NCAA champions.
A 1972 Iowa graduate, he is survived by his wife, Cindia; a daughter, Kalli, and a son, Garrett.
