Photo by: GoDucks.com
Ducks Mourn Passing of Coach Ron Finley
07/06/16 | General, @GoDucksMoseley
Ron Finley, who coached Oregon's wrestling program from 1970 to 1998, passed away Tuesday after battling cancer. He was 75.
A native of Newberg, Finley won two high school state titles and was NCAA runnerup at 137 pounds for Oregon State in 1961. After finishing fourth as a featherweight wrestling freestyle at the world championships in both 1962 and 1963, Finley placed fourth in the 1964 Olympic Games in the Greco-Roman division.
As a coach, Finley led the Ducks to conference championships in 1975, 1981 and 1982, and helped 42 wrestlers win individual conference titles. In 1984, he coached the U.S. team in the Greco-Roman division at the Olympic Games, helping Jeff Blatnick and Steve Fraser win gold medals.
"He was a great coach, a steady coach," Fraser told USA Wrestling on Tuesday. "He really helped us prepare for the Los Angeles Games. I feel grateful for what he did for me and for our nation."
Finley was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1982, and was honored by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame with a lifetime award for service to the sport.
"Coach Finley holds a distinguished place in the history of Oregon Athletics for his decades of dedication to the department," UO director of athletics Rob Mullens said. "The UO athletics community mourns his passing and offers deepest condolences to his family."
Finley is survived by his wife, Linda, his son, Michael, and his daughter, Kelly.
A native of Newberg, Finley won two high school state titles and was NCAA runnerup at 137 pounds for Oregon State in 1961. After finishing fourth as a featherweight wrestling freestyle at the world championships in both 1962 and 1963, Finley placed fourth in the 1964 Olympic Games in the Greco-Roman division.
As a coach, Finley led the Ducks to conference championships in 1975, 1981 and 1982, and helped 42 wrestlers win individual conference titles. In 1984, he coached the U.S. team in the Greco-Roman division at the Olympic Games, helping Jeff Blatnick and Steve Fraser win gold medals."He was a great coach, a steady coach," Fraser told USA Wrestling on Tuesday. "He really helped us prepare for the Los Angeles Games. I feel grateful for what he did for me and for our nation."
Finley was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1982, and was honored by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame with a lifetime award for service to the sport.
"Coach Finley holds a distinguished place in the history of Oregon Athletics for his decades of dedication to the department," UO director of athletics Rob Mullens said. "The UO athletics community mourns his passing and offers deepest condolences to his family."
Finley is survived by his wife, Linda, his son, Michael, and his daughter, Kelly.
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