A former NCAA DII National Champion and All-American and a three-decade NCAA Division I head wrestling head, Ralph McCausland is being honored with a 2022 National Wrestling Hall of Fame-Illinois Chapter Lifetime Service Award for his outstanding contributions to the sport in the Land of Lincoln. 

An IHSA State Placer for Wheaton Central High School, Ralph coached at Wheaton Central and later Downers Grove North before returning to his alma mater, Eastern Illinois University in 1983.  

During his 24-year tenure leading the Panthers, he saw at least one EIU wrestler qualify for nationals every season, as 34 wrestlers earned 58 total trips to the NCAA Championships. That outstanding accomplishment was further highlighted by six wrestlers achieving All-American status, as well as a team-best finish of 26th place in 1996. That included Matt Hughes who went on to win multiple titles in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), placing fifth at 158 pounds in 1997 just prior to becoming Ralph’s assistant coach. 

Ralph hails from a long and decorated Illinois wrestling lineage, as he was coached by Ed Ewoldt as a Wheaton Central freshman and John Fuller during his sophomore, junior and senior campaigns. Ralph ultimately placed fourth at the 1975 IHSA state meet at 132 pounds. He would also eventually secure Hall of Fame status at Wheaton Central. 

As a 1980 EIU graduate, he earned Panther Athletic Hall of Fame honors in 1989 after nabbing three All-American honors and an NCAA DII National Championship at 142 pounds, all under the tutelage of his former long-time EIU mentor, Ron Clinton. 

Ralph personally credits Ewoldt, Fuller and Clinton for shaping both his life and coaching philosophies. He continues to pay their outstanding wrestling and life lessons forward to his numerous former student-athletes, many of whom continue to give back to the state of Illinois as current and former coaches at all levels. 

Fittingly, Ralph was recognized with induction into the Illinois Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1999.