Emil “Butch” Diewald
Coach/Contributor ⋅ Class of 1985
Homewood-Flossmoor
Butch began his career at Roosevelt High School in Chicago. He began his collegiate wrestling career at the University of Illinois in Chicago and then transferring to the University of Illinois at Champaign, graduating in January prior to the Big 10 Championships. He wrestled for 4 years. After graduation he began his coaching career at the University of Illinois for 1 year as Pat Patterson’s assistant. He then began tenure of 27 years of coaching, starting at Pontiac, Michigan; Lockport and the last 24 years at Homewood-Flossmoor.
His teams have won over 200 dual meets, a number of Southwest Conference Championships, districts and 1 sectional. He had 8 place winners in the state finals.
During this time he was the Director of the Mayor Daley Wrestling Club under Werner Holzer. He was Secretary of the IWCOA under Steve Combs. Secretary of the SICA Wrestling Coaches Association for 6 years. Presiden-Elect of SICA for 2 years and President of SICA for 2 years.
Butch also directed the Kids Wrestling program for the Homewood JC’s for 18 years, which was an annual participant draw of 2 to 500 boys. He also conducted the Park District Junior High programs for 13 years.
For two years he was a clinician-coach at the Kuma Wego Wrestling Camp in Eagle River, Wisconsin. He also conducted a clinic for the IAHPER which was entitled “wrestling from the cradle to the grave”.