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    Ex-Western Michigan coach, Michigan State wrestler Hobbs dead at 74

    George Hobbs, Michigan State Big Ten finalist wrestler and former wrestling coach of the now-defunct mat program at Western Michigan University, died at Courtney Spring Hospice in Merritt Island, Fla. after battling cancer, InterMat learned this weekend. He was 74.

    George Hobbs
    George William Hobbs was introduced to wrestling at Battle Creek Central High School, where, according to the 1958 Paean yearbook, won the 112-pound title at the Michigan state wrestling championships. After graduating from Battle Creek in 1958, Hobbs then headed north to East Lansing, where he continued his mat career on a wrestling scholarship to Michigan State University. As a Spartan, Hobbs was a three-time runner-up at 123 pounds at the Big Ten conference championships from 1960-62, and placed fifth in the same weight class at the 1962 NCAA championships.

    Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree from Michigan State, Hobbs then earned his masters at University of Michigan. After a stint as teacher and coach at North Farmington High School outside Detroit, Hobbs launched his collegiate career as an instructor and coach at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo in 1965. He was first hired as the Broncos' head golf coach, but then also assumed the role as assistant wrestling coach at WMU, working alongside head coach Roy Wietz until his retirement in 1969. In 13 seasons at the helm, Hobbs and his wrestlers posted a career record of 76-57-1, leading the team to a second-place finish in the Mid-American Conference in 1971. The 1980 Broncos were arguably his most successful team, scoring a program-record 11 wins that season. Hobbs coached 14 individual MAC champs, and two NCAA All-Americans: Rich Bacon (1971) and Doug Wyn (1972-74).

    "It is with a great sadness that we pass on our condolences to the family and friends of George Hobbs," said WMU Director of Athletics Kathy Beuregard. "Having spent decades as part of the Bronco family, he touched a number of young peoples' lives in our golf and wrestling programs, as well as countless others as a professor. He was and will always be remembered as a true Bronco."

    Hobbs was an inductee into the State of Michigan Wrestling Hall of Fame.

    Memorial services have already been held in Florida where he and his wife Janeene had their winter home, and in June at Southridge Reformed Church in Portage, Mich. where they resided the rest of the year.
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