Bill Racich

Bill Racich

Title: Head Wrestling Coach
Phone: 610-409-4419
Email: wracich@ursinus.edu
College: West Chester University

Since Bill Racich became Ursinus College's head wrestling coach in the 1980-81 season, the team has won more matches than in its previous 52-year history. He has a 394-100-7 overall record in 26 years of coaching, putting him six wins away from a remarkable milestone. Racich also ranks first in wins among all men's single sport coaches ever to serve at the college and is 10th on the all-time winningest coach list for wrestling among all divisions.

Under Racich, the Bears have won eight Centennial Conference (CC) titles, including four consecutive from 2003-06 to become the only school in CC history to capture four straight titles. He has coached 30 individual champions and 88 place winners in the conference tournament. Racich has seen 15 All-American and two Academic All-Americans go through his program.

In 2001, Racich was inducted in to the Ursinus College Hall of Fame for Athletes. Perhaps even more impressive is the academic success his student-athletes have enjoyed through the years. Under Racich, 22 Ursinus wrestlers have been named NCAA Division III Scholar All-Americans, including five in 2005.

During his 26 years at Ursinus, the Bears' wrestling teams have never had a losing season. Racich's 1988-89 team set the current standard of 21 dual meet wins. The 1995-96 and 1996-97 Bears both won the Centennial Conference championship, and the 1997-98 squad challenged for a third consecutive title, but finished second.

Such success isn't new to the Ursinus coach. At West Chester University, he was a Middle Atlantic States Conference (MAC) champion in 1974 and an East Coast Conference (ECC) champion in 1975. After graduation, Racich continued to wrestle in freestyle competitions, taking 25 open tournaments. He also has served as president of the Philadelphia Whitemarsh Rugby Club.

Racich demands that his student-athletes produce in the classroom as well as in the wrestling room. All senior letter winners Racich has coached have graduated from Ursinus -- a statistic that particularly pleases Racich, because he knows academics and athletics are a winning combination.