Russ Schneider

Gurnee

Since 1972 Dr. Russ Scheider has been a volunteer wrestling coach at Warren Township High School in Gurnee.  In 1964, while a student at Warren Township, he was an undefeated IHSA State Wrestling Champion at 145 pounds.  He accepted the first full wrestling scholarship offered by Northwestern University.  He earned a degree and was twice selected team captain, won a Big Ten Championship, a Midlands Championship, finished 3^rd in the NCAA tournament becoming an All-American.  Russ earned the most team points in each of the three years athletes were then allowed to participate intercollegiately.  He has sponsored the Midlands Wrestling Tournament for over thirty years.

Russ also was President of the Warren Township High School Board of Education when the new Almond Campus was built.  The U.S. Department of Education honored Warren with the Blue Ribbon as “A National School of Excellence”.

Dr. Schneider also graduated from Northwestern University Dental School and operates a solo dental practice in the Gurnee-Waukegan area.  He recently discovered a simple plastic cover for orthodontic braces which can safely replace breathing inhibiting mouth guards wrestlers with braces are currently required to wear.

Dr. Schneider is also a Forensic Specialist for the Lake County Coroner’s Office and has performed almost 300 oral autopsies to provide the identity to unknown human victims.  Russ volunteered to go to New York City and assist with the identification process of over three thousand American victims of the terrorist attacks September 11, 2001.

Russ has been in a classic rock band for over thirty years and his critically acclaimed CD, “Friday Night” can be reviewed at www.CDBaby.com/cd/RussSchneider.

Russ would like to be remembered as someone who love the sport of wrestling, and felt it was God’s blessing to allow him the opportunity to share his passion with thousands of student-athletes for so many years.