Wendall Bean - Lifetime Service to Wrestling

Wendall Bean was raised in Culver, Indiana, and is the youngest of ten children born to William and Lela

Bean. He is a 1975 graduate of Culver Community High School where he excelled as a three-sport

athlete in cross-country, track, and wrestling, earning a wrestling scholarship to William Penn College in

Oskaloosa, Iowa. 

Despite being awarded William Penn's Male Athlete of the year, Wendall wanted to continue his

wrestling career elsewhere. After an extensive search, Wendall decided on the University of Wisconsin-

Whitewater, where he found a true friend and father figure in the legendary Willie Myers, former UW-

Whitewater wrestling coach and member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

After a redshirt season, Wendall captured a starting spot in the varsity line-up the next three years and

participated in three NAIA National Tournaments. He graduated in 1980, earning a Bachelor of Science

in Education degree with a major in Physical Education. 

In 1980 Wendall began his teaching and coaching career at Whitewater High School as a Physical

Education Instructor and assistant wrestling and track and field coach. After four years as assistant,

Wendall took the helm as head wrestling coach in 1984. During his 23-year tenure as head wrestling

coach, Whitewater High School teams compiled a 206-94 record, captured 14 Regional titles, two

Sectional titles, one Southern Lakes Conference title, two SLC Western Division titles, 46 team

championships, made appearances in 10 WIAA Team Sectional Tournaments and two WIAA Team State

Tournaments. Whitewater teams finished 1st or 2nd 92 times in dual or individual championships during

his 23-year span as head wrestling coach. Wendall coached 41 individual State qualifiers/place finishers

and 43 individual Southern Lakes Conference champions. Wendall also served as assistant and head

track coach. The 1988 Whippet girls track team won the WIAA State Championship.

A Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association member since 1980, Wendall has been very active serving as

District Six representative from 2000 to 2010 and assisting with organization and operation of the

WWCA Annual Fall Clinic. He authored the ‘Aspiring Officials Program’, a WWCA initiative for the WIAA

to recruit, assist and retain wrestling officials. In 2011, Wendall became WWCA Clinic Chairperson and

continues in that role today. Since 2021 Wendall has also served as President of the WWCA.

Wendall has been involved in many endeavors within the Wisconsin wrestling community. He was

selected to co-coach the Southern Lakes All Stars vs. West Germany (1987) and the Southern Wisconsin

All-Stars vs. Northern Illinois All-Stars (1990,91, 92), organized and sponsored a traveling wrestling clinic

for high school wrestlers in Illinois, Tennessee and Wisconsin (1986-1989), co-directed the Fort-

Whitewater Developmental Camps (1984-90), coordinated a Badger State Games Wrestling Regional

(1986-1990), was clinician and counselor for Warhawk Wrestling Camps (UW-Whitewater 1978-98),

directed the Wisconsin Granby System Wrestling Camp (2003-2008), coordinated and directed UW-

Whitewater's Mid-States Wrestling Classic (1984 - present) and assisted with the development of the

Middle School Elite AAU program (2006). He served as president of the University of Wisconsin-

Whitewater Wrestling Alumni Association 1993-2012 and currently supports the UW-Whitewater

wrestling program in a number of projects.

Some of Wendall's proudest moments were not just as wrestling coach, but those as a father. The

attitude of hard work and commitment often developed in the sport of wrestling helped him through

the many years of being a single parent. His son, Andy, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-

Madison, was often by his side assisting in the many facets of managing wrestling events allowing

Wendall to focus more on the elements of coaching. Besides the many hours Andy put in as a wrestler

and three-sport athlete, he spent many additional hours rolling mats, stuffing envelopes, sorting

uniforms, and assisting with the many duties that accompany the sport of wrestling. There is nothing

prouder than being a father and a wrestling coach!

Wendall continues to stay actively involved in coaching as the Whitewater Middle School wrestling

coach, a position he has held since his retirement as high school head coach. He also serves as a liaison

to the Whitewater Youth Wrestling Club and has become very active in recent years as a WIAA wrestling

official.

Wendall is extremely grateful for all the support he has received throughout the years from the

Whitewater parents, athletes, community members, businesses, teachers, and administrators, but

especially the support of his assistant coaches.