Legendary Illinois Coach Tim Haak arrived in Harvard, Illinois in 1980 and started his wrestling career as the junior high wrestling coach.

In 1987 he became the head wrestling coach at Harvard High School, retiring after the 2014 season as the head wrestling coach and head football coach. He also served as a physical education teacher and had a stint as Harvard's athletic director.

Tim wrestled at Woodstock High School under Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Hall of Fame coach Jim Patton and was a 1980 graduate of Monmouth College, where he wrestled and played baseball.

Tim's wrestling teams achieved extraordinary success, qualifying for the Illinois High School Association Dual Team State finals 13 times, including a Class A state championship in 1992; top-three finishes on four other occasions; and 26 IHSA regional championships. He coached 105 state qualifiers, including 40 place-winners and 10 state champions.

Tim's 636 victories are the most in Illinois history at one school and rank among the top five in the nation for most victories at one school by an active coach.

Tim counts coaching his son, Shane, as one of the greatest thrills of his career, and he is also proud that over 50 of his former wrestlers have stayed involved in the sport as both coaches and officials.

Tim has served as a member of the IHSA Wrestling Advisory Committee, as well as on the IWCOA Board of Directors. He is also a member of the IWCOA Hall of Fame and the Illinois Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. In 2013, he was selected as Grand Marshal of the IHSA Individual State Tournament. In 2014, he was a finalist for the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Wrestling Coach of the Year.

After retirement from Harvard, Tim and his wife Chris moved to Wisconsin to be closer to their adult children. Tim continues to give back to the sport of wrestling, serving as an assistant coach alongside son Shane, the head wrestling coach at Portage High School.

Tim is thankful for the love and support through the years from his wife, Chris, his son Shane and his daughter Mallory. His family and his Hornet family have always been important to him.