By Gary Abbott
USA Wrestling
Bill Zadick of Colorado Springs, Colorado, currently an Assistant National Freestyle Coach with USA Wrestling, has been named as the next National Freestyle Coach for USA Wrestling, the national governing body for the sport in the United States.

“To be named USA Wrestling’s Freestyle National Coach is a great honor. It is humbling, and I feel a tremendous responsibility to the United States and to USA Wrestling and to the athletes. I love freestyle wrestling. I cut my teeth in freestyle as a young kid, coming up through the developmental ranks. It has always been a huge passion for me. It is an important component to the American wrestling system. I am a patriot. I love red, white and blue and I want us to be the best wrestling nation in the world,” said Zadick.

He becomes the fifth full-time National Freestyle Coach for USA Wrestling, following Lee Roy Smith, who is now Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame; Bruce Burnett (two terms); Kevin Jackson, who was inducted as a Distinguished Member in 2003; and Zeke Jones, who was inducted as a Distinguished Member in 2005. USA Wrestling conducted an in-depth interview process, which included input from an advisory committee of respected wrestling leaders.

“I am proud of the process we went through to select our next National Freestyle Head Coach,” said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director. “It included virtually all of the appropriate stakeholders in the process. Bill will lead this program with character and dignity. We are confident that the best is yet to come for Team USA.”

Zadick will assume the duties after the current National Freestyle Coach Bruce Burnett completes his tenure after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. Burnett, who was the National Freestyle Coach from 1992-2000, was rehired in May 2014 to lead USA Wrestling’s freestyle national program through the Rio Games.

Read Full Story