SCF Wrestling Coach Inducted to HOF

We at the WE ARE Network want to congratulate SCF Wrestling legend Dan Clark on his induction into the George Martin Wisconsin Wrestling Hall of Fame!

Date: November 3, 2023

Location: KI Convention Center, Green Bay

Reception: 6:15 p.m.

Banquet: 7:15 p.m.

From the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association:

Dan Clark was born and raised in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. His love for the sport of wrestling started when he was just 7 years old, when his parents began taking him to local tournaments. His grandpa, Ried Larson, set Dan up to get one-on-one lessons from Hall of Fame coach, Henry Yetter. Yetter taught him the basics of the sport. In high school Dan wrestled for St. Croix Falls under coaches Keith O’Donnell and Harry Johns. During his senior year, his team won the WIAA Division 2 State Championship. While on that team Dan wrestled with his best friend and fellow Hall of Fame member Scott Marko. Dan finished third in the state that year. He also played football and ran track.

After high school, Dan attended Northwestern College in St. Paul Minnesota. He went on to graduate in 1996 with bachelor’s degrees in elementary education and biblical theology. Dan completed his master’s degree in 2004 from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse.

In 1994, while still in college, he was offered the assistant wrestling coaching job in his hometown. Despite the long drive, he took the job and coached under Jim Richie III. During this time Dan met the single most influential person in his coaching career, fellow Hall of Fame coach Jim Richie II. Jim was well-established as a coach and has coached in Coleman, Pulaski, Barron, Chetek and Rice Lake. Jim mentored Dan not only when he was an assistant coach but continued after Dan became the head coach. They became lifelong friends and Jim became someone who Dan truly looked up to and went to for advice.

Dan took his first teaching job in Frederic in 1998 and enjoyed his time there. In 1999 a job came open in St. Croix Falls and he took it. That same year he became the head wrestling coach. He would remain the head coach until 2019. He stayed on as an assistant until 2023. During his time at St. Croix Falls, his teams won 12 Conference championships, 11 WIAA Regional championships, and 3 WIAA Sectional championships. Dan coached 85 WIAA State qualifiers, 50 State place winners, 12 State champions, and 5 high school All Americans.

Dan’s wrestling journey would not have been possible without the support of his family. His parents, Bob and Connie, were his biggest fans. His coaching career would not have been possible without the love and support of his wife, Tracey. She has been a mother to all of the St. Croix Falls wrestlers. Dan’s three favorite wrestlers were his sons Luke, Zack and Kaden. It was the honor of a lifetime to coach his own three kids.

Dan would like to thank all of his assistant, middle school and youth coaches over the years. He was lucky to have Mike Steffen as his assistant coach for 20 years and Cory Strom as his middle school coach. Volunteers Terry Kahl and Steve Bont have also been with the program for 20 plus years. Dan is proud to leave the program in good hands with three of his former wrestlers. Joe Raygor is the head coach and Dustin Raygor and Drew Wheeler are the assistants. In all, nine of his former wrestlers are coaching at the middle and high school levels throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota.

No coach can be successful without quality people around them. Dan feels forever grateful to have had the support of many great wrestling people. Dan would like to thank the wrestling families of St. Croix Falls for all of their support, trust and hard work throughout the years. Finally, he would like to thank all of the athletes he has had the honor to coach. Their hard work and dedication is appreciated and will not be forgotten.