Coach Mike Simons is a longtime wrestling coach at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon, where he has led both the boys’ and girls’ programs since the early 2000s. He is known for building competitive teams with strong participation and depth, developing one of Oregon’s top girls wrestling programs, and emphasizing academics, character, and life skills in addition to athletic achievement. Coach Simons has earned multiple national coaching honors, including the 2020-21 NFHS National Wrestling Coach of the Year and the NWCA National High School Girls Coach of the Year. He has guided the girls’ program to multiple state titles. In 2026, he led the boys’ team to its first state championship since 2002, breaking through after three consecutive runner-up finishes. Coach Simons wrestled collegiately at Oregon State and followed in his father’s footsteps as an educator and wrestling coach after a 13 year hiatus in the business world. 

In this episode of The Coachers Podcast, Coach Simons shares his journey into coaching, the impact of wrestling on youth development, and the importance of creating a positive team culture. He discusses innovative coaching techniques, the evolution of wrestling, and the core values that guide his coaching philosophy. The conversation also touches on the challenges of recruiting athletes to the sport and the mental toughness required in wrestling. Coach Simons emphasizes the significance of commitment, teamwork, consistency, and the flow of practice in developing successful wrestlers. He shares insights on overcoming setbacks, the influence of mentors / colleagues, and defining success beyond just winning championships. Coach Simons also offers advice for young coaches, highlighting the significance of surrounding oneself with good people and the value of continuous learning in coaching.

Takeaways: 

-Building Confidence through consistency!

-Why is Wrestling the Greatest Sport?

-The Impact of Wrestling on Athletes

-PIN to WIN! Pin Chain for the fastest pinner of the week.

-What makes a great wrestler: Elite Competitor and Willingness to Learn

-The greatest challenge is getting kids to try wrestling for the first time

-Wrestling teaches resilience and self-reliance.

-Core Values of Thurston Wrestling

-Wrestling teaches you to compete in life!

-Practices Must Have a Flow to them

-Team success is built on individual contributions.

-Wrestling is the best way to get into Wrestling shape

-Don’t try and reinvent the Wheel – Surround yourself with Good People

-Success is measured by the impact on athletes' lives.

-Passing the Torch to the next generation of Coaches

-Continuous learning is vital for coaches – Seek guidance from others who’ve done it

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