Frank “Chico” Coniglio
Official ⋅ Class of 1987
Murphysboro | Oak Lawn
Frank wrestled at Oak Lawn High School for Hall of Famer Elias George. While at Oak Lawn he finished 2nd in the State in 1958. His collegiate days were spent at Southern Illinois at Carbondale where he wrestled for Hall of Famer, the Late Dr. James Wilkenson. He had a excellent record while at Southern, winning the Illinois Invitational three times, won the IIAC Conference Championships twice, and was named the Outstanding Wrestler in 1962, and won the NCAA Regional Qualifying Championship in 1962, and again was named the Outstanding Wrestler. His only losses in duals in the last two years were to NCAA Champions from Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
After graduation from Southern Illinois, Frank helped coach in the Murphysboro system while starting his own business. He went full time into business in 1963 and started a long and illustrious officiating career that last until his retirement from officiating in 1985. During this time he worked numbers Regionals and Sectionals and worked the State Finals 9 times. He also officiated at the college level, working the NCAA Districts which were held in Ohio at that time. It is interesting to not that Missouri employed him 14 times in their Regional and Sections but because he was and Illinois resident, would not allow him to work their State Finals.
For his work in officiating he was twice named “Official of the Year’ in 1976 and 1977.
Frank is still volunteering services, as this year he was an unofficial coach at Murphysboro High School.