Richard Linsenmayer, one of only four Washington high school Hall of Fame coaches from Oak Harbor, died Saturday, Dec. 26, in Mill Creek. He was 78.

Linsenmayer, who coached at Oak Harbor from 1969-99, was named to the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 2002, compiling a 248-126-5 dual meet record during his career.

After wrestling for Oklahoma State University, Linsenmayer began his coaching career at Air Academy High School (Colorado Springs) in 1960. In 1966 he became an assistant coach at Snohomish High School, then  took over the OHHS program in 1969.

Linsenmayer led his teams to eight league and seven district titles, coached six state champions and 40 state placers, and qualified at least one wrestler for the state tournament in 37 different years.

He was named the Washington Coach of the Year in 1981 and received the Paul Reiman/Bo Campbell/Ken Driskell Award in 1999.

Current Oak Harbor High School assistant wrestling coach Joe Brannon wrestled for Linsenmayer in the late ‘90s.

“He was a great coach,” Brannon said. “He was without a doubt the best technician I was ever around. He could break down technique into simple sequences that all wrestlers could use.”

Brannon said he enjoyed wrestling for Linsenmayer because of the coach’s sense of humor.

“He had both a serious side and a lighter side,” Brannon said.

“He definitely had an impact on my coaching style,” Brannon added. “I try to emulate him; I aspire to be the technician he was.”

Bruce Biddle, a longtime assistant coach with Linsenmayer, said, “Rich was very intense; dedicated 100 percent to the sport.

“He took meticulous notes on the strengths and weaknesses of competitors, and he had a very good memory.”

These notes helped give Oak Harbor wrestlers an edge, Biddle said, and helped when the league coaches met to determine postseason seeding.

“He was well respected by the other coaches,” Biddle added.