Mike Stefanko played football, but took a shine to wrestling when he became a coach. In more than 30 years he has happily gained respect and prominence in the Richmond suburb of Chesterfield County.

Stefanko was a four-year starter as a running back while also returning punts and kickoffs for Randolph–Macon College. He earned a teaching credential in science and in 1993 launched a career as a science teacher at three Chesterfield public high schools.

He then began working in his adopted sport of wrestling, getting his feet wet as an assistant coach for Meadowbrook High School for two years. He then began a consistently successful career as a head coach for Meadowbrook (Monarchs) for three years, Clover Hill High School (Cavaliers) for eight years, and Cosby High School (Titans) for 18 years. Gods, kings and aristocrats, his teams have aspired to their mascots lofty status, giving Stefanko a career record of 523-177-1.

Stefanko's tenure at Crosby put the school on the wrestling map in central Virginia as his teams won seven Dominion District championships, both in dual team and individual tournaments; two Conference 3 championships; and two Central Region runner-up finishes. He coached 34 individual district champions, 10 individual regional champions, eight individual state champions, and 17 All-State wrestlers.

Somehow, Coach Stefanko has managed to combine his teaching and coaching with a prosperous family life with his wife Gretchen and their two sons, Logan (25) and Garrett (22).