The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Sports Columns

Related Photos

  • rueda, jim.jpg

    rueda, jim.jpg

February 16, 2012

Rueda: Retiring East coach Urbatch more bark than bite

By Jim Rueda Free Press Sports Editor

— Sometimes you don’t know people as well as you think you do.

When I placed a phone call to Mankato East wrestling coach Bruce Urbatch this week, I expected to have a tough interview on my hands. Urbatch has decided to retire after 33 years of coaching, and he’s not the kind of guy who seeks attention.

I realized long ago that the scowly, gruff, curmudgeonly persona he likes to present is merely a facade. Just underneath that exterior is a guy with a good sense of humor who genuinely likes people.

Still, it’s always been obvious he ducks the limelight. When one of his student-athletes does well, he avoids taking any of the credit. That’s why I figured it would be tough to get much out of him during that phone call but, surprisingly, it went pretty well.

That probably means he’s come to terms with his decision.

Urbatch, who took over as head wrestling coach at East about 15 years ago, will likely oversee his final dual meet tonight. The Cougars take on Mankato West at 6 p.m. in Hutchinson in the first round of the Section 2AA Team Tournament. If they win, they’ll have to meet No. 2 seed Hutchinson right afterward in Round 2.

He’ll still have the individual tournament to coach in the upcoming weeks and will again be an assistant track coach in the spring, but after that he’s done. No more teaching, no more coaching.

“I’ve reached the Rule of 90, so I’ve been thinking about it the last few years,” said Urbatch, who is a science teacher for District 77. “I don’t know if you can ever say anything is really done for sure but that’s the plan. I’ll tell you what, if I win the Powerball, I’m definitely done.”

As for missing coaching or regretting his decision, Urbatch is taking a wait-and-see approach.

“I don’t know if I’ll miss it or not; I’ll let you know when I get there. I’m certainly not going to stay awake at night worrying about it.”

Urbatch began his coaching career in Waldorf in 1978. Eventually Waldorf-Pemberton morphed into St. Clair-Waldorf-Pemberton where he became co-head coach with Paul Pagel. During that time he coached two-time state champion Brad Loeffler and one-time state champ Steve King.

He moved over to Mankato East soon after where he began coaching three sports each year, which to date he still does. If you’ve been around a Mankato East football field, wrestling mat or track facility the last two-plus decades, there’s a good chance you’ve bumped into Urbatch.

The highlight of his wrestling tenure at East was probably coaching three-time state champion Cody Adams from 2005-07. He also coached state place-winner Jon Dierks, who went on to become an All-American at Minnesota State and is currently on the East staff as an assistant. Dierks is considered a strong candidate to replace Urbatch.

 “I didn’t coach a lot of state champs, but sometimes it turns out they achieve more in real life than they ever did on the wrestling mat,” Urbatch said. “As a teacher and coach that’s something you can truly appreciate.”



Jim Rueda is the Free Press sports editor. To contact him, call 344-6381 or

email him at jrueda@mankatofreepress.com.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Sports Columns