TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Dressing Up Suits Coaches

ADVERTISEMENT

By EDDIE DANIELS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 26, 2007

TAMPA - No one is exactly sure where it began or who was the first one to do it, but wrestling coaches understand it's a tradition and it has to be done.

When wrestleback and consolation rounds of a tournament come to an end and the break between those rounds and the championship round arrives, it's typical to see a coach transform.

They go from team warm-ups or jeans and a T-shirt to slacks, shirt and a tie.

"It's a special occasion," said Brandon coach Russ Cozart, who recalls seeing the trend in junior high and during his time at Upland (Calif.) High School. "It's been going on for a long time. Wrestling coaches wearing shirts and ties in the finals or basketball coaches wearing shirts and ties to their games, it kind of correlates to all sports. Penn State football coach Joe Paterno and his shirt and tie and rolled-up pants, former Alabama football coach Bear Bryant and his shirt and tie."

The trend of dressing up for the finals has even trickled down to the wrestlers. Many schools will travel to tournaments with several singlets and when a wrestler advances to the championship round, he, like his coach, makes the transformation.

In some areas, the trend isn't as prevalent.

In Missoula, Mont., Cody Bryant, a three-time state champion, recalls his coaching stint at Hellgate High School. He would don the shirt and tie and opposing coaches would rib him.

"... Every dual meet and every tournament, I always wore a shirt and tie. That was about the only time I'd ever wear a shirt and tie, except for church," said Bryant, managing editor for Wrestling USA Magazine. "What was so funny about it, and still to this day I get harassed by other coaches now as a volunteer coach, I don't wear the shirt and tie. I just wear the collared shirt. So a lot of the same coaches are still around and always bugging me about wearing a shirt. So now I say, 'I'm just a volunteer, I don't count.'"

Show Of Honor

Mark DeAugustino is a native of Pennsylvania and has been around wrestling his entire life.

The Pasco High coach quickly admits, if it got colder in Florida, he likely would don a suit jacket along with the shirt and tie. He also said the kids understand when they reach the finals, it doesn't matter whether he dresses up or not saying, "They're in the finals. They know we're fired up."

But he does it anyway.

"It's mostly a tribute to dad and to the sport and the kids," DeAugustino said.

See, his father is the late Leonard "Gus" DeAugustino.

Gus DeAugustino coached North Allegheny (Pa.) High from 1957-89, compiling a 359-103-2 record. The 1992 Southwestern Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee was also the coach at Duquesne University from 1991 to 1997.

"My dad dressed up for every match and he was my coach, so that's where I got it," said Mark DeAugustino, who went 98-6-1 at North Allegheny High and led the Tennessee Volunteers wrestling team in wins three of four seasons. "It's important. It means something and the kids see that."

Gus DeAugustino, who was an alternate on the 1952 U.S. Olympic wrestling team, became Lock Haven University's first national champion in 1953 when he went 16-0.

Not An Option For Some

In the college ranks, there isn't a mad dash to the restroom to change from warm-ups to the more dressy look.

"I know college really put a stop to the warm-ups. For a long time, coaches would have warm-ups on or just T-shirts and that type of thing," said Bryant, whose father, Lanny, editor in chief of Wrestling USA magazine, was awarded the Order of Merit by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. "There were a couple articles written, basically they were crucifying those coaches for what they were wearing.

"I think the NCAA basically stepped up and said, 'If you want to coach in the corner then we expect you to dress appropriately.'"

The NCAA's mandated coaches attire rule states: It is the moral obligation of all collegiate wrestling coaches to conduct themselves in such a way as to reflect credit upon their institutions, their profession and themselves. Personal grooming and appropriate dress is a standard of professionalism. Jeans, T-shirts, sweat suits or warm-up suits (top or bottom), headwear, and similar apparel are not considered suitable attire and are prohibited. Moral obligation and ethical conduct are part of winning and losing. Good sportsmanship, appearance, pride, honor and concern for the welfare of the competitors should be placed before all else. The rules have been established in the spirit of this statement.

The Florida High School Athletic Association also has adopted a standard, which doesn't dictate what a coach wears, but does mandate wrestlers wear a "proper uniform at all times, while he/she is in public view."

"It's very important, I think, as a coach, you project the finest image you can," Cozart said. "Dress up, look nice for your school, for your sport, for the kids on your team. I think it's important, in this day and age, that we all try to look good, dress properly, represent your school and your sport the best way you can."

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214 or

edaniels@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT