Most people might imagine a wrestling coach to be a hard-nosed man, lacking time for anything but his job, but NIU’s wrestling coach Ed Vatch proves that stereotype to be very wrong.

Outside from wrestling, Vatch owns and maintains his own construction business. Due to only a nine month contract with NIU, his business doesn’t interfere with the wrestling season.

Although he was born in Chicago, Vatch spent most of his childhood years on the West Coast. His father’s career took him from California to Oregon, but he eventually ended up back in Chicago.

He attended Addison Trail High School in Addison, Ill., where he starred on the wrestling squad while also playing football.

His football and wrestling skills landed him at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After one season of football, he decided to focus on his wrestling talents.

His biggest wrestling highlight came in 1972 when he took second place in the Olympic trials. Ironically, the man who finished in first place went on to win both gold and silver medals in the 1972 Olympics.

Once again Vatch returned to Chicago; this time it was to continue coaching. He coached Bloom High School on the south side of Chicago. Vatch explained that it was his return to Chicago that led him to his NIU coaching job.

“I used to work out over at the Northwestern University weight room,” Vatch said. “One night, I ran into two friends, one of whom had a father who was the golf coach here at the time. They had asked what I was doing, and I explained that I was coaching high school. But I was looking to move up to the college ranks.

“The next day I got a phone call from Coach Flavin, who was NIU’s wrestling coach at the time. The following summer I was (at NIU) working with Continuing Education.”

Despite his small income, Vatch realized that he was just “paying his dues,” and he would have to work his way to the top. However, the birth of his second child forced him to seek a higher paying job.

“I pulled out of coaching for what would be a year,” Vatch said. “I worked for my private business in order to earn a living.”

“The following year, Flavin had a heart attack and decided it was time to quit. I put my name in the hat and fortunately they picked it out. I’ve been here ever since.”

Vatch has always tried to drive home the idea and importance of academics over athletics.

“Academics is the only way to go for these guys,” Vatch said. “For wrestlers, there’s no (professional) league out there after college. And maybe one in a thousand will get a shot at the Olympics. With that in mind, I stress the importance of education to my boys.”

He stresses it well. His team has an overall 2.70 GPA.

Vatch has enjoyed his time so far with NIU and doesn’t see it ending soon.

“I’m very happy where I’m at right now,” Vatch said. “I’m settled in and I hope to stay here for a while. You don’t spend this much time at one school if you don’t plan on making that school your home. I believe that Northern is a very nice home.”