Paul SolbergSolberg had coached Luther's wrestling program from 1966-1980 and 1982-1983. Under Solberg, the Norse wrestling program won three conference championships, and had its first national wrestling champion when Dan Boos won the 142-pound weight class in NCAA Division III and took eighth in NCAA Division I. Solberg coached three individual national champions and 14 All-America wrestlers. The college dedicated the Paul Solberg Wrestling Complex in his name in 2005.
During his career at Luther College, Solberg was named IIAC (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) Coach of the Year seven times, including three times for wrestling. (In 35 years at the northeast Iowa school, Solberg also served as head coach of baseball and tennis, and an assistant coach for Norse football and track.) Solberg became a school administrator, working as an assistant athletic director before being promoted to director of athletics. He retired in 2001 with professor emeritus status.
For all these accomplishments, Solberg earned his place in the Luther College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001 and the National Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2005.
Born on October 2, 1938 in Spring Grove Minnesota, Paul Jerome Solberg was one of 12 siblings who grew up on a farm. He was a multi-sport athlete at both Spring Grove High School and Luther College, but did not participate in wrestling at either school.
After graduating from Luther in 1961, Solberg began his teaching and coaching career at Buffalo Grove High School in Minnesota, where he taught physical education and coached wrestling, football and track. He returned to his college alma mater in 1966, where he had a career as professor, coach and administrator spanning three-and-a-half decades.
While a student at Luther College, Paul Solberg married Carolyn Marie Myhre in August 1959. The couple lived in the married student housing complex. "Together they shared in his love of coaching and the mentoring of student athletes," according to Solberg's obituary. "It was not unusual for them to house the entire wrestling team in their basement over campus holidays while the dorms were closed. Numerous meals and countless loads of laundry made for a family atmosphere that demonstrated his care for his teams."
Paul Solberg is survived by his wife Carolyn; a daughter; a son; four grandchildren; five great grandchildren; three brothers and two sisters.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to Luther College Biology Department, c/o Development Office, 700 College Drive, Decorah, IA 52101; Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 701 Iowa Ave., Decorah, IA 52101; or Aase Haugen Senior Services, 4 Ohio Street, Decorah, IA 52101.
Luther College is a four-year private school located in Decorah in northeastern Iowa. Founded in 1861, Luther has an enrollment of approximately 2,300 students. The Norse wrestling program -- and all other intercollegiate sports -- compete in NCAA Division III.
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