Hall of Fame

BOB KUHN

Few coaches are as synonymous with promotion of Western Kansas wrestling Coach Bob Kuhn. His lists of Western Athletic League championships, individual state champions, plus many state medalists place Coach Kuhn among the state’s elite coaches. However, Coach Kuhn’s contributions are not limited to the sport of wrestling.

Since his first experience with wrestling for fellow Hall of Fame inductee Coach Gerald Sadowski, Coach Kuhn has had many accomplishments. He competed all 4 years of high school in football, wrestling and track and was a state discus champion for Hays High School his senior year in 1968. His three-sport endeavor continued for two years at Pratt Community College where he placed 5th and 3rd nationally in the discus. Coach Kuhn concluded his undergraduate education at Ft. Hays State University where he competed in football and track and became an NAIA discus champion. Thereafter, his entire career in education has been with the Hays Unified School District #489 in a variety of capacities beginning in 1974.

Most notably, Coach Kuhn has been involved in 74 consecutive athletic seasons before taking medical retirement. His wrestling coaching career includes guiding Hays High to aforementioned 5 league championships, 5 regional championships, and a runner-up finish at the state tournament (1985) along with two third place finishes (1986 & 1994). He has coached 24 state finalists, 14 of whom became state champions, and 70 state placers. Also, the Kansas Wrestling Officials twice awarded Coach Kuhn with their sportsmanship award (1995 & 2000), the Kansas Coaches Association 2000 Coach of the Year, and the 2000 NFCA District 5 Coach of the Year award. In addition, Coach Kuhn was a fixture with the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association serving as the Class 5-A Representative for 20 years.

Coach Kuhn’s contributions and responsibilities have not been limited to coaching and teaching. He has been an honored member of the United States Army in some capacity since being drafted while a student at Pratt Community College in 1969. Following his draft, Coach Kuhn served 2 years of active duty, including 16 months serving in Vietnam, before continuing with his education. For 32 years Coach Kuhn has been on active or reserve status. His service has taken him throughout including a 6-month tour of duty with Operation Enduring Freedom supporting the peacekeeping effort in Bosnia in 1996. His service to our country has afforded Coach Kuhn numerous awards and decorations.