Koch was out for a morning jog Friday morning, March 17 when he was hit by a car. He reportedly suffered injuries to his head and back as a result of the impact, and was rushed to Saint Louis University Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery, according to the Racine Journal-Times.
Jim KochDuring his four decades as the Rangers' head coach, Koch's wrestlers earned 128 All-America honors and 80 Academic All-America honors. Fourteen of his wrestlers won individual national championships. Under his tutelage, Ranger Athletics emerged as one of the top programs in NCAA Division II competition, as his teams finished with a Top 10 national ranking in 23 seasons.
"Jim was a tireless worker," said UW-Parkside Athletics Director Tamie Falk-Day. "He exemplified and lived the spirit of Ranger Athletics: commitment to the student athlete, commitment to the community, and commitment to sportsmanship and the competitive spirit."
UW-Parkside Chancellor Debbie Ford said Koch was a mentor and guide for coaches and student-athletes far beyond the sport of wrestling. "Jim Koch will be missed," Ford said. "It is up to us to ensure that his competitive spirit and his dedication to the success of our students live on in Ranger Athletics and throughout the university."
"This is a very sad day," said Parkside wrestling coach Gregg Lewis. "This program was built upon Coach Koch's back. A person doesn't receive all the honors and recognition he received without having a great career and having the respect of the wrestling community.
"I would be hard pressed to think there is a coach at any level that has had more of an impact on student-athletes, a university or a community than Coach Koch."
Born in 1947, Jim Koch began his wrestling career in South Dakota in 1963 as a high school junior after his mother convinced the local school board to start a wrestling program, according to his biography at the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He was the captain and most valuable wrestler during both his junior and senior seasons and was the first wrestler from Milbank High School to earn a medal in the state meet after going 23-1-1 as a senior.
Koch was recruited for both football and wrestling at South Dakota State University, awarded SDSU's prestigious Stephen F. Briggs academic scholarship. He played one season of football as a center at SDSU but decided to concentrate on wrestling, where he was a member of the SDSU wrestling team for four years. After an undefeated freshman season, Koch was the varsity 160 pounder for the Jackrabbits for three years. As a junior he helped his team to a third-place finish in the NCAA College Division National Championships. As a senior, he was a team co-captain. Koch reached the finals of the North Central Conference Championships all three years.
After graduating with honors from SDSU in 1969, Koch launched his coaching career as a graduate assistant at SDSU while working on his master's degree in physical education.
One year later, at age 23, Koch moved to Kenosha, Wis. to accept the University of Wisconsin-Parkside head wrestling coach position.
Over his long, successful career at the helm of the UW-Parkside wrestling program, Koch received numerous honors. In addition to being welcomed into the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006, Koch was inducted into the UW-Parkside Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. He also is enshrined in the NCAA Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame, the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Wrestling Hall of Fame, the District 14 NAIA Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the George Martin Wisconsin Wrestling Hall of Fame. In 2003, Koch received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Funeral services are pending.
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