Oregon State National Champion Greg Strobel Passes Away

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Two-time National Champion, three-time All-American and Oregon State Athletics Hall of Famer Greg Strobel has passed away at 68.
 
Strobel, the United States Olympic Head Coach in 2000, won a national championship in both 1973 and 1974 at 190 pounds, and placed fifth in 1972 to earn his first All-American honor. In 1973, he was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the NCAA Championships.
 
Strobel won three Pacific-8 Conference titles during his career at Oregon State and earned an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholar Athlete Award in 1975.
 
Strobel still holds the Oregon State record for consecutive wins at 74. He ended his career with 124 victories, which ranks ninth all-time at Oregon State.
 
Strobel earned both a bachelor's degree and master's in business education from Oregon State.
 
"We at Oregon State are saddened to hear of the passing of Greg Strobel," said Scott Barnes, Oregon State Vice President and Director of Athletics. "We'll remember Greg for the impact he made here as a student-athlete and the wrestling community as an incredible ambassador for the sport both at the collegiate level and Internationally. We're thankful that Greg was a part of the Beaver Family and want to offer our condolences on his passing to his family and friends."
 
"I, like, everyone in the wrestling community, was deeply saddened by the loss of Coach Strobel," Oregon State head coach Chris Pendleton said. "He was an amazing man who was beloved by all. He will always be remembered for the impact he left as an athlete, coach, and as a human being.
 
"On a personal note, Greg, I loved getting to know you better the past couple of months. From the hiring process, to your mentorship of a young head coach. You forever changed my family's life, and I could never thank you enough."
 
From 1977-81, he served as the head coach at Roseburg High School, then returned to Oregon State as an assistant coach from 1981-83. Ten years later, in 1993, he was named to the Oregon State Hall of Fame. Strobel is also a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame – a 2012 induction as a Distinguished Member – and the State of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame, being inducted in 2016.
 
Prior to serving as U.S. Olympic head coach in 2000, Strobel, a native of Scappoose, Ore., was the Director of National Team Programs for USA Wrestling from 1983-91, including two years as the National Freestyle Coach in 1987 and 1988.
 
Strobel concluded his coaching career as the head coach at Lehigh from 1996-2008, where he helped the program to six top-10 NCAA finishes, including five straight from 2002-06. Lehigh won 22 dual meets in 2004, at the time a program record.
 
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