Dover resident returns to USA wrestling

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — In a back-to-the-future move by USA Wrestling, Bruce Burnett has returned to his former role as national freestyle coach and will continue through the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janiero.

“It’s pretty exciting,” the 64-year-old Burnett told USA Today Sports in a phone interview Tuesday from Dover, where he has been enjoying fishing, mountain biking and cross country skiing since retiring last September after 13 seasons as coach at the U.S. Naval Academy.

The job opened up in early April when Zeke Jones left to become coach at his alma mater, Arizona State. Burnett, who held that USA Wrestling post from 1993-2000, said he was initially contacted by USA Wrestling to “help” with the transition to a replacement.

“Then it went a little bit further than that after about two weeks, and they asked me if I would come back,” said Burnett.

He said when he left the Naval Academy he figured his coaching days were done. “No question about it. I was confident my profession career ended in Annapolis, 100 percent sure.”

But he has stayed involved with international wrestling over the years, coaching in the Pan Am and University Games. In mid-March, he was a volunteer assistant with the U.S. team for the World Cup in Los Angeles.

That stoked his competitive fire.

“Honestly … that really did help me get excited about it again,” he said.

Sandpoint head wrestling coach Mike Randles was hoping to have unfettered access to Burnett’s extensive knowledge, but USA Wrestling came calling. Randles remembers Burnett’s Meridian High School teams dominating Idaho wrestling in the 1990’s, and Burnett had hinted that he might make his way up to the SHS wrestling room, if possible.

“At least for now, close but no cigar,” said Randles. “Hopefully, when his duties conclude with USA Wrestling, Sandpoint will be able to have an occasional guest coach who guided the US to its greatest Olympic success.”

Burnett has had both hips replaced, neck surgery and three knee scopes.

“I’m of sound mind. I’m not sure about my body,” said Burnett, who was traveling Tuesday from Idaho to New York for a USA Wrestling event this week.

During Burnett’s previous stint as national coach, Team USA won five medals at the 1996 Olympics (three gold, one silver, one bronze) and four at the 2000 Olympics (one gold, one silver, two bronze).

“We are incredibly fortunate to have one of the greatest coaches in Team USA history again lead our program,” Rich Bender, executive director of USA Wrestling, said in a press release. “Coach Burnett is considered by many as one of the top strategists ever in international wrestling.”

Prior to joining USA Wrestling, Burnett was the assistant coach for the storied program at Oklahoma State from 1987-1990. While there, the Cowboys won two NCAA team titles, two NWCA National Dual titles and three Big Eight Conference titles.

 Burnett had a fantastic career as a high school coach for Meridian High in Idaho from 1974-1987. He coached the team to four state titles, four state runner-up finishes, six district titles and nine conference titles. His record at Meridian was 154-13-2 for a .923 winning percentage. Burnett also served as a state chairperson and a Junior chairperson for Idaho USA Wrestling.

 He received an Associate Arts degree from Bakersfield College and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Idaho State University, where he was a star on the wrestling team. He is a member of the Idaho State University Hall of Fame.