Garry Bender attended North Olmsted High School in Cleveland, Ohio, where he began wrestling his sophomore year. Following high school he went on to Ashland College in Ohio and earned four varsity letters and wrestled in three national tournaments under Coach Chris Ford. After graduation in 1973, Garry began his teaching and coaching career at Woodridge Haigh School in Stowe, Ohio. There he coached football and wrestling for four years, coaching a two time state champ Jerry Burgy. Bender left Ohio in 1977 and traveled to West Virginia where he coached football, wrestling and baseball at Spencer High School. He received an M.A. in Science from Marshall University. Garry produced his first individual state champ in Spencer with junior Matt Ashley, who also won his senior year, making him West Virginia's first four time state champ. During his 34 year wrestling career, Bender coached a total of 27 state champs, two of which claimed four titles; Rich Greathouse in 1983-84-85-86 and Todd Kendall in 1987-88-89-90. Kendall was also named the Dutton Award winner in 1990; had 18 runners up and 96 place winners. He was named regional Coach of the Year in 1986-87 and 1989-90; West Virginia High School Coach of the Year in 1984, 1988, and 1990; National Federation of High School Coaches Mideast Sectional Coach of the Year 1990, 2006; LKC Wayne Underwood Coach of the Year 1988, 2006; and was a member of the National Coaches Association for several years. While at Spencer, Bender, who is currently retired, was named Teacher of the Year in Roane County in 2006 and named a Great Teacher of West Virginia at the 2006 Governor's Honor's Academy in Fairmont.