Coach rights ship, then retires

By BOB PUTNAM
Published March 9, 2007

Countryside wrestling coach Greg Chapman, who helped revitalize a troubled program, announced he is retiring.

"I feel we were able to accomplish a lot and put the program back on track," Chapman said.

When Chapman took over in 2005, the Cougars were slinking in the shadows cast by several controversies.

A volunteer was removed as an assistant coach and banned from the campus and team in 2004 after county investigators concluded he verbally and physically abused a student. The following year, Paul Burke resigned as coach after an allegation of misconduct.

Chapman, 61, saw the shambles of a once-proud program and wanted to put the pieces back together. Inheriting a young squad, Countryside made a quantum leap in his two years as coach, going from 35th at state to sixth this season.

"I'm real proud of what we did, especially this season," Chapman said. "We won conference, we won districts, we only lost two dual meets. That's saying something."

There is no timetable on naming a replacement. One possibility is former coach Dave Frayer, who retired in 2004 after 24 seasons at the school.

Frayer said he expressed an interest in coming back with the thought of handing over the reigns to his son, Jared, in a few years.

Bob Putnam can be reached at putnam@sptimes.com or at 727 445-4169.

[Last modified March 9, 2007, 00:43:15]