Pete Alber

Class of 2015

Dakota

In the summer of 1991 while attending a summer softball game, then Dakota High School Head Coach Tom Unruh, asked Pete Alber what he thought of being his assistant coach. At the time, Pete had just started his own precision cutting tool business, Proto-Cutter, and had a very young family. Of course, Pete couldn’t say “no”, and so his coaching history begins. After 5 years, Unruh decided to move on, and Pete became the Head Coach. Since the 1996-97season, Alber has had a career record of 276-149-3; with 3 Illinois Team State Championships, and 24 individual championships.

Twice named the IWCOA Head Coach of the year (2005, 2013) and IHSA Head Coach of the Year in 2006, Alber has definitely left his mark in Illinois wrestling and the DeKalb wrestling community. His first State Champion, Matt Jacobs, is his assistant coach. There have been many alumni that have returned to Dakota to help out with the wrestling program, for which he is very grateful.

Alber’s kids are now 25, 27 & 29. His son, Vince, one of his assistant coaches, and his two daughters, Holly & Shelly, can be seen yearly on the floor of the State Tournament working a clock or keeping stats. Pete will tell you that the only reason he has been successful is because of the Glory of God and that his success is not only his, but the families, the communities, and the fans.

Pete has many endeavors outside of wrestling. Aside from being the head coach at Dakota and being a small business owner, he has been the Mayor for the past 6 years, previously serving on the town board; owned a bus company for many years and is a church usher.

Everyone asks how much longer he will coach. His usual answer is “Until losing doesn’t bother me”. With two new grandsons, retirement does not look to be an option in Pete’s near future.