By Gary Abbott
USA Wrestling
Bruce Burnett of Colorado Springs, Colorado has been named the Myron Roderick Man of the Year by USA Wrestling, the national governing body for wrestling in the United States. This award recognizes an outstanding man for his contributions to the sport of wrestling.

The award is named in memory of the late Myron Roderick, one of the most influential figures in American wrestling history, a man who made an amazing impact as an athlete, college coach, administrator and visionary. Roderick was one of the founding fathers of USA Wrestling, developing from the U.S. Wrestling Federation of the late 1960s to what it has become today.

“I am honored. I know the type of individuals with USA Wrestling, both past and present, and to be considered in that category is humbling. It is always interesting to be blessed to have the opportunity to do what you love, and then get honored for it. I get to work with people like Jordan Burroughs, Tervel Dlagnev, Aaron Pico, Kyle Snyder, Bill Zadick, Terry Brands and so many more great people to be affiliated with. I am honored and blessed to be able to do it. Growing up in Bakersfield, you don’t anticipate something like this,” said Burnett, who received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award from the Idaho State Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2015.

Burnett serves as USA Wrestling’s National Freestyle Coach. He is completing his second stint as National Coach, having also run the freestyle program from 1992-2000. In May 2014, after Zeke Jones left USA Wrestling to take the Arizona State job, Burnett returned from retirement to lead the freestyle program through the 2016 Olympic Games. During his 10 seasons as National Coach, Burnett has coached the USA to 27 World medals and nine Olympic medals, including 13 World gold medals and four Olympic gold medals.

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