Masters In Coaching Episode XL: Wrestling Coach Scott Glabb

Posted on 4/21/2022 by Tim Cates

Three decades as a coach, a teacher, he's a Hall of Fame wrestling coach and author; he is Scott Glabb.

Show Highlights

He has worked at Santa Ana High School for 29 years as a teacher and wrestling coach, achieved over 400 wins, coached 36 individual CIF champions, 56 state qualifiers, 18 state place winners, coached two national champions, one of his former wrestlers went on to fight for the UFC and become an analyst for ESPN; he’s also been named the Santa Ana Unified School District Teacher of the Year, a semi-finalist for the Orange County Teacher of the Year Award, two-time recipient of the California State Coaches Wrestling Award, inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2014, involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes since 1992, and wrote "A Saint In The City" {endorsed by Jay Mohr}
He has worked at Concordia University Irvine since 2011, created the Faith-Based Coaching class, and teaches multiple courses
What were his struggles finding a full-time job after graduating from Eastern Washington University with two degrees
How his friends and family influenced his decision to move from Washington to the place he dreaded most, Southern California
After graduating, he substituted and volunteer coached at his old high school, and after being rejected when a full-time position opened up, he felt lost and moved to Southern California and sold snow cones until he secured a job at Marina High School, which eventually led him to a position at Santa Ana High School as their wrestling coach
How wrestling throughout high school, Pacific University, and Eastern Washington University influenced his decision to become a teacher and coach
Why wrestling became such a large part of his life
How his experience with rejection, depression, and family members who abuse substances prepared him for his time at Santa Ana High School
How disoriented the program was when he first joined Santa Ana High School’s program
How his coaching style adapted to cultural differences between himself and his athletes and how issues with the team’s poor reputation impacted their tournament invitations
How having a hands-on approach with the students turned the wrestling program around in a year
In his first year they were 11 and 16, but in his second year, they were 26 and 3
His team lost to Huntington High School 76 to nothing in the first year, lost by 6 points in the second year, beat them in the third year with a 126 league title, and won a league title every year since then until he retired
How winning tournaments and league titles improved team morale and attracted more athletes, attracting over 100 athletes for 10-15 consecutive years
How being a student in the Masters in Coaching and Athletic Administration program from 2007 to 2009 led to a job teaching in the MCAA program
How the three-dimensional coaching elements of fundamentals, mind, and heart from a Fellowship of Christian Athletes workshop inspired his class Faith-Based Coaching
Why he started writing in 2003 and finished his book "A Saint In The City" in 2010, and then got it republished in 2018
After retiring from Santa Ana High School, he now substitutes at his son’s school sometimes, is a Commissioner in the city of Costa Mesa, and is on the Athletic Council at Vanguard University
Where to buy his book "A Saint In The City"