Chester “Chuck” Sanders is known as the father of wrestling at Indiana State University (then Indiana State Teachers College), serving as the first coach of the Sycamores from 1959 through 1969. During his tenure, Indiana State compiled a 102-29-4 record and competed in four NAIA Championships and four NCAA Championships.
The Sycamores also won five Indiana Collegiate Conference championships including three straight from 1966 through 1968. Sanders was named ICC Coach of the Year three times (1966, 1967, 1968).
Sanders guided Indiana State to their best ever finish at the NAIA Championships as the Sycamores finished third. Indiana State was fourth in 1964 and ninth in 1965. Several Sycamores earned NAIA All-American recognition during those years including Maurice Rodgers, Rolland Beckman (three times), John Welliever (two times), Tom Porter (two times), James Hill (two times), Richard Servies, and Edgar Freese.
In his final season as the Sycamore wrestling coach, Sanders guided the Sycamores to a tie for 15th in the NCAA Championships. Indiana State was moved up to the University Division in 1966 with the Sycamores tying for 23rd at the 1966 NCAA Championships, tying for 37th in 1967, and tying for 32nd in 1968.
He graduated Brazil High School in 1942 and attending Ball State University before transferring to Indiana University where he earned his Bachelor’s in 1946 and Master’s in 1948. Sanders was a member of the Indiana 1945 Big Ten football championship team.
He coached at high schools in Hobart, Ind. (1948-50), East Gary, Ind. (1950-53), and Clinton, Ind. (10953-55) before joining the Wabash College staff in 1955 where he was assistant football and golf coach and wrestling coach until 1959.
He came to Indiana State in 1959 as an assistant football coach for head coach Bill Jones. He was recognized as one of the finest defensive coaches in the Midwest and became the head backfield and defensive coach for the Sycamores in 1963 after serving as assistant varsity and assistant freshman coach during his first four seasons.
Sanders, who later officiated at several NCAA Wrestling Championships, was inducted into the Indiana Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1981. He also served as president of the NAIA Wrestling Coaches Association for the 1965-66 season. Sanders passed away on Aug. 13, 2003.
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First Wrestling Coach at Indiana State University (1971)
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102-29-4 career record
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Indiana Wrestling Hall of Fame (1981)
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Inducted into Hall of Fame February 28, 2004
