Clarion Athletics

Robert "Bob" Bubb arrived at Clarion State College in the Summer of 1966 as head wrestling coach. In 1992, after 26 seasons of developing wrestlers and men, he retired from coaching with a legacy that is envied by the wrestling world. He accomplished things even the most loyal fans might have thought impossible. He led Clarion to a 26-year slate of 322-121-4 and was only the fourth NCAA Division I coach to reach 300 career wins in 1990. His teams placed in the top 10 at the NCAA Div.I Nationals 4 times and in the top 25 a total of 16 times. Considering Clarion was a Division II wrestling school before Bubb came on board, it is an even more amazing story. Clarion also won 11 PSAC titles and 1 EWL crown in his tenure. His wrestlers won an incredible 7 NCAA Div.I National Titles, earned 27 Div.I All-America placings, won 29 EWL crowns and 68 PSAC titles. The Eagles burst onto the wrestling scene in 1972 & 73, when Clarion had 5 NCAA Champions in two years. Garry Barton and Wade Schalles won in 1972, with Don Rohn, Schalles and Bill Simpson winning in 1973. Bubb may have saved the best for last. In 1992 at the NCAA Finals, in his last official match, Bubb coached Kurt Angle to his second NCAA title. The duo embraced in the center of the mat in front of a national audience, and walked off the mat together as champions. The 1972 and 1986 NCAA "Coach of the Year", Bubb has been inducted into several Halls of Fame. A professor in the HPE Department as well, Bubb was honored with the "Distinguished Faculty Award at Clarion in 1982.