“My first thought when I heard about this was that it is a cool deal,” Strobel told USA Wrestling. “I’ve seen the list of previous winners, and that is very good company. All of those people dedicated their lives to improve wrestling. To join those people with this award is a great honor.”
Strobel coached Lehigh for 13 seasons, guiding the Brown and White to one of its most successful runs in the program’s 101-season history. He posted a 189-83-1 dual meet record, good for the second most wins in school annals, and led the Mountain Hawks to six EIWA team titles including a string of five straight from 2002-2006. Strobel’s Lehigh teams finished in the top ten at the NCAA Championships six times, led by the 2004 squad which tied for third place with five All-Americans, an accomplishment that led to Strobel being named NWCA National Coach of the Year.
A four-time EIWA Coach of the Year, Strobel guided his wrestlers to 28 individual EIWA titles and 30 All-American medals. Strobel coached two NCAA Champions, Rob Rohn in 2002 and Troy Letters in 2004.
Currently, Strobel serves as First Vice President of USA Wrestling and is a member of the Executive Committee. He has served on USA Wrestling’s Board of Directors for almost 20 years.
Strobel is the chairperson of USA Wrestling’s Freestyle Sports Committee which oversees the national freestyle program. He also chairs the Sports Science Committee and the Freestyle Coach Selection Committee. Strobel has been a member of numerous USA Wrestling committees in the past.
On the international circuit, Strobel was one of USA Wrestling’s most successful freestyle coaches. He was a co-coach for the 2000 U.S. Olympic Freestyle team and an assistant with the 1996 Olympic team. He also coached internationally in several U.S. World teams plus the 1997 U.S. World Cup team, 1997 U.S. Junior World team and the 1994 U.S. Goodwill Games team.
He was named the 1997 USA Wrestling’s Freestyle Coach of the Year and 1999 Developmental Coach of the Year. He is the first to receive both Developmental and Senior coach of the year honors.
Strobel came to Lehigh after serving as wrestling coach for the Team Foxcatcher club program in Pennsylvania.
From 1983-1991 Strobel was the Director of National Team Programs for USA Wrestling, which included a stint as National Freestyle Coach from 1987-88. As liaison on USA Wrestling’s most active committee, Strobel helped to design the policies, procedures, team selection, training and competition for all USA teams including the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Olympic teams.
A 1975 graduate of Oregon State, Strobel received his bachelor’s degree and master’s in business education. Strobel earned NCAA titles in 1973 and 1974 while wrestling at 190 pounds and was fifth in 1972. In 1973 he was named the tournament’s outstanding wrestler. He compiled a daunting 126-7-1 record from 1972-74 and still holds the school record for consecutive wins with 74. Strobel won three Pacific 8 Conference championships and earned an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholar-Athlete Award in 1975.
Strobel is currently Lehigh’s Assistant Athletic Director for Camps and External Relations. He will be recognized by his peers during the USA Wrestling Board of Directors meeting on August 20.
“I am honored that USA Wrestling is presenting this award to me,” Strobel said. “The timing is perfect, with it being recognized at our Board meeting, which we hope will be a landmark meeting as we discuss Board restructuring. To be named Man of the Year and to work on that project at the same time is very special for me.”
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