LeRoy Alitz
December 08, 1919 - April 15, 2006
He probably has taught wrestling to more young people than any other man. In four decades as coach and physical instructor at the U. S. Military Academy, LeRoy Alitz educated more than 30,000 cadets in the skills and discipline of the sport. As Army officers, these ex-cadets continue to teach wrestling as physical training for combat troops.
During 23 seasons as varsity coach, 1955-77, Alitz won 146 dual meets and produced Army's only NCAA champion, Mike Natvig, 1962 and '63. Six years of high school coaching in his home state of Iowa push his victory total over 200.
Alitz led the United States to the World Military Games championship in Egypt in 1963, the nation's first international team trophy in wrestling. He also coached the World University team in the Moscow games of '73 and several All-Army teams which competed overseas.
He brought many notables to West Point as assistant coaches, including Hall of Famers Doug Blubaugh and Gray Simons, and helped shape their post-graduate international careers. One of his proteges, as a varsity wrestler and freshman coach, was H. Norman Schwarzkopf, later the commanding general of allied forces in the Gulf War.
Alitz helped develop Eastern wrestling programs and inaugurated the Little Easterns for freshmen, until yearlings were granted varsity eligibility. He had national impact as chairman of the NCAA rules committee for six years and a member of the governing council of USA Wrestling for a dozen seasons. He served as president of the National Wrestling Coaches Association and the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association, and helped develop the Eastern and National Wrestling Officials Associations.
An All-America wrestler at Northern Iowa, he placed fourth in the 1948 Olympic trials.
As a leader who established foundations for the development of wrestling and a teacher of its values in life, LeRoy A. Alitz is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Awards:
Year
1992
|
Award
Distinguished Member
|
Chapter/Region
National
|
All American Awards:
Season
1948
|
School
Northern Iowa
|
Tournament
Division I
|
Weight
191
|
Place
4
|
All Coaching Dual Records:
Season
1977
|
School
Army
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
21
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
11
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
42.86
|
Season
1976
|
School
Army
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
18
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
11
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
38.89
|
Season
1975
|
School
Army
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
19
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
13
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
31.58
|
Season
1974
|
School
Army
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
18
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
11
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
33.33
|
Season
1973
|
School
Army
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
22
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
12
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
40.91
|
Season
1972
|
School
Army
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
20
|
Wins
13
|
Losses
6
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
65
|
Season
1971
|
School
Army
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
14
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
64.29
|
Season
1970
|
School
Army
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
15
|
Wins
8
|
Losses
7
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
53.33
|
Season
1969
|
School
Army
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
11
|
Wins
5
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
2
|
Win PCT.
45.45
|
Season
1968
|
School
Army
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
10
|
Wins
8
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
80
|
Season
1967
|
School
Army
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
11
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
63.64
|
Season
1966
|
School
Army
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
9
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
66.67
|
Season
1965
|
School
Army
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
10
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
70
|
Season
1964
|
School
Army
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
8
|
Wins
2
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
2
|
Win PCT.
25
|
Season
1963
|
School
Army
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
10
|
Wins
4
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
40
|
Season
1962
|
School
Army
|
Division |
Duals
10
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
60
|
Season
1961
|
School
Army
|
Division |
Duals
11
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
63.64
|
Season
1960
|
School
Army
|
Division |
Duals
10
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
60
|
Season
1959
|
School
Army
|
Division |
Duals
11
|
Wins
4
|
Losses
6
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
36.36
|
Season
1958
|
School
Army
|
Division |
Duals
10
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
70
|
Season
1957
|
School
Army
|
Division |
Duals
9
|
Wins
3
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
33.33
|
Season
1956
|
School
Army
|
Division |
Duals
8
|
Wins
3
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
2
|
Win PCT.
37.5
|
Season
1955
|
School
Army
|
Division |
Duals
8
|
Wins
2
|
Losses
6
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
25
|
Season
Career
|
Duals
293
|
Wins
144
|
Losses
134
|
Ties
15
|
Win PCT.
49.15
|
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