Published: August 03, 2008 10:07 am      

In addition to the legacy

Peck named national coach of the year finalist

MARLOW — MARLOW — Former Marlow wrestling coach Mike Peck is quick to make jokes about winning awards. But his career speaks for itself.

During Peck’s tenure at Marlow, he led the Outlaws to nine state championship trophies in team and dual wrestling and accumulated 19 state trophies and two academic state championships. For his efforts, Peck was named the National High School Association Coaches Association Region V Coach of the Year as well as a National Coach of the Year finalist. Peck joined Duncan tennis coach Phil Barnes as a national finalist.

“I think basically it’s an award for being old,” Peck said. “It’s a unique deal to receive. I’ve been fortunate since I came to Marlow with good assistant coaches, good parents and good athletes that work hard. It’s really humbling and it’s a sign that I’m out the door.”

The award recipients are evaluated on longevity, professional service, win-loss percentage, championship years and professional awards. The evaluation process is two-tiered, first to determine the finalist and second to determine the National Coach of the Year recipient.

Peck had been a head coach for four years before he took over the Outlaw program. In Marlow, he saw a program that did not have a storied past but one that could be construed as a sleeping giant.

“I had no idea we would win all the state titles,” Peck said. “You have to be lucky on some of it. There was no tradition at all when I got here but it looked like a fit. Evidently, it worked out pretty well.”

And then some. The Outlaws would capture six titles in team wrestling and three in dual wrestling. Add to that the 10 combined state runners-up and the word dynasty comes to mind.

This year, Marlow picked up one of two titles when it won the Dual State Championship. To cap the year off, Peck saw his son, Jacob, win an individual state title. During the All-State Dual Monday night, he was named the State Coach of the Year and Jacob picked up his win to give the West squad a lift.

“I wish every coach had a son or a daughter they could experience something like this with,” Peck said. “You can’t really explain it, it’s a reward within itself.”

Now that Peck has added handsomely to his achievements, it is time to move into a different role, that of fan. With many of his former charges competing in the collegiate ranks, Peck will spend a lot of his time watching them compete at the next level. That will include Jacob, who will wrestle at Oklahoma State this coming season. He figures it will help fill the void of not being a head coach for the first time in 26 years.

“I’m going to watch the college kids and I have a vested interest in the kids here,” Peck said. “It hasn’t hit me yet except that I still wake up at night and wonder if someone is in trouble or are they doing what is right.”

As for the trophies he has accumulated during his career, he had this to say.

“We can take them out for the grandkids to look at,” he said. “I don’t have any interest in them. I was there and have the wounds to prove it.”