Roger Denker

Upon graduation from South Dakota State University in 1956, Roger taught PE and started the second wrestling program in South Dakota at Spearfish High School. In 1961, Denker moved to Casper, Wyoming, to teach history, and continued his coaching career.

In 1963, he made the move to Warrensburg, Missouri, to be the head wrestling coach (1963-1981) and assistant football coach (1963-1972) at the University of Central Missouri.

Denker guided the Mules' wrestling program to national prominence during his 17-year tenure as head coach. Highly respected as a coach, educator and administrator, Denker coached the Mules to seven Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association championships and six Top 20 finishes at the NCAA Division II Championships. Three times he was voted MIAA coach of the year. The Mules had 10 All-Americans and 63 national qualifiers under Denker. His 143 dual match wins are the most in Mules' wrestling history.

He also taught in the physical education department and served as acting athletic director for the 1980-81 school year.

Denker retired from coaching after the 1980-81 season and retired from teaching with the rank of professor emeritus in 1993.

The Mules have one of their open tournaments each season named in his honor.

Awards:

Year
2003
Award
Lifetime Service to Wrestling
Chapter/Region
Missouri

All Coaching Dual Records:

Season
1981
School
Central Missouri
Division
Division II
Duals
16
Wins
8
Losses
7
Ties
1
Win PCT.
50
Season
1980
School
Central Missouri
Division
Division II
Duals
15
Wins
6
Losses
9
Ties
0
Win PCT.
40
Season
1979
School
Central Missouri
Division
Division II
Duals
15
Wins
6
Losses
8
Ties
1
Win PCT.
40
Season
1978
School
Central Missouri
Division
Division II
Duals
13
Wins
7
Losses
6
Ties
0
Win PCT.
53.85
Season
1977
School
Central Missouri
Division
Division II
Duals
13
Wins
11
Losses
2
Ties
0
Win PCT.
84.62
Season
1976
School
Central Missouri
Division
Division II
Duals
14
Wins
7
Losses
7
Ties
0
Win PCT.
50
Season
1975
School
Central Missouri
Division
Division II
Duals
15
Wins
10
Losses
5
Ties
0
Win PCT.
66.67
Season
1974
School
Central Missouri
Division
Division II
Duals
17
Wins
9
Losses
8
Ties
0
Win PCT.
52.94
Season
1973
School
Central Missouri
Division
Division II
Duals
12
Wins
11
Losses
1
Ties
0
Win PCT.
91.67
Season
1972
School
Central Missouri
Division
Division II
Duals
14
Wins
10
Losses
3
Ties
1
Win PCT.
71.43
Season
1971
School
Central Missouri
Division
Division II
Duals
14
Wins
5
Losses
9
Ties
0
Win PCT.
35.71
Season
1970
School
Central Missouri
Division
Division II
Duals
16
Wins
4
Losses
12
Ties
0
Win PCT.
25
Season
1968
School
Central Missouri
Division
Division II
Duals
15
Wins
6
Losses
9
Ties
0
Win PCT.
40
Season
1967
School
Central Missouri
Division
Division II
Duals
15
Wins
9
Losses
6
Ties
0
Win PCT.
60
Season
1966
School
Central Missouri
Division
Division II
Duals
17
Wins
13
Losses
4
Ties
0
Win PCT.
76.47
Season
1965
School
Central Missouri
Division
Division II
Duals
19
Wins
14
Losses
4
Ties
1
Win PCT.
73.68
Season
1964
School
Central Missouri
Division
Division II
Duals
13
Wins
7
Losses
6
Ties
0
Win PCT.
53.85
Season
Career
Duals
253
Wins
143
Losses
106
Ties
4
Win PCT.
56.52

Our Mission: To honor the sport of wrestling by preserving its history, recognizing extraordinary individual achievements, and inspiring future generations