Jack Effner (2011) - Hall of Fame - Indiana State University Athletics

Hall of Fame

Jack Effner

Class

1986
Induction

2011
Sport(s)

Wrestling

Jack Effner used his talents developed as a student-athlete at Indiana State and become a successful wrestling coach which he still enjoys today. Effner is one of six Sycamore legends who will be inducted into the 20th Class of the Indiana State University Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday. The event is sponsored by Old National Bank.

"This is quite an honor," Effner said. "It is something I thought about a long time ago but when it comes reality, it is awesome. I never really thought of myself as a Hall of Famer but it is pretty neat to be honored along the other great athletes from Indiana State."

Three coaches who guided Sycamore teams to numerous post-season appearances and three athletes who consistently competed on the national level were selected for induction into the 20th Class including Effner, Jessica Crowder (Wayton), Aubrey Herring, Fran McCann, Dennis Raetz, and Bob Warn.

The induction ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13, in the Heritage Ballroom of the Tirey Hall on the campus of Indiana State University. The six inductees will also be recognized during halftime of the Indiana State Homecoming football game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The Sycamores will take on Western Illinois starting at 3:00 p.m.

Effner's legacy in wrestling may have begun as a student-athlete at Indiana State University (1982-1986) but it continued well into his professional life as one of the top collegiate wrestling coaches of all time.

A graduate of Terre Haute South High School where he won the state title at 132 pounds with a 35-0 record, Effner competed for Indiana State from 1982 to 1986 and was named a Freshman All-American by the Amateur Wrestling News in 1983.

"I came in at the end of Bruce Baumgartner's career and was a round a little bit with Bob Dickman and Doug Reifsteck," Effner said. "Being with these great athletes was pretty intense. It really helped me pick it up a notch in my training."

Effner said that the training, travel, and schedule were what made the experience at Indiana State quite tremendous.

"It felt really good to go to these places known for their wrestling and compete in their tournaments," Effner said. "It was an experience I will not forget."

He competed in the NCAA Championships three times, earning All-American status twice (1985 and 1986) with a sixth place finish at the 1985 NCAA Championships and a fifth place finish at the 1986 NCAA Championships, both in the 142 pound weight class. His 128 victories stand third on the Indiana State All-Time list.

Effner won amateur titles in the Sunkist Open and New York Athletic Club tournaments in the 149-pound class and spent less than one season for the Philadelphia Stallions of the now-defunct pro-wrestling league.

His dominance as a wrestler was equaled by his success as a collegiate wrestling coach. Effner began his coaching career as an assistant at Clemson (1987-1988). He was also an assistant at the U.S. Military Academy for one season 1988-1989) before taking over as the head coach.

"I am still pretty busy with coaching, just at a different level," Effner said. "I pour everything I have into whatever I am doing and the kids feed off of me."

Effner never had a losing season in nine campaigns at Army as he compiled an 87-45-5 record. He coached 17 cadets to the NCAA Championships. The 87 dual meet wins are the third highest in the U.S. Military Academy's history. His best season at Army was 1989-90 as the Cadets were 15-3-1 and finished third in the Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Championship.

He was equally successful at his next stop. Effner took over as head coach at Cleveland State in May 1998 and led the Vikings to a 71-91-3 record in 10 seasons. He coached 37 wrestlers to the NCAA Championships. His best season at Cleveland State was the 1999-2000 campaign where he led the Vikings to a 9-8-1 record, the program's first winning season in the previous eight years.

Effner moved on to Cape Henry Collegiate School in Virginia Beach, Va., in 2008 to serve as middle school counselor and wrestling coach. He led Cape Henry to the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools championship, a sixth place finish at the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association championship, and coached the school's first National Prep Champion, Will Mason.

"I think it really helps get through the good times and tough times when you have a group you can depend on," Effner said. "I have been very fortunate to have that when I was competing and as a coach."

He is fourth member of the Indiana State wrestling team to be inducted into the ISU Athletics Hall of Fame. Past inductees include: Bruce Baumgartner (1998), Bob Ferraro (2004), and Doug Reifsteck (2006).