Mike Polz began his wrestling career under the direction of his father, coach John Polz and went on to attend Riverside-Brookfield High School, where he was a two-time IHSA state qualifier. He then continued his career at Eastern Illinois University under Coach Ron Clinton, where he placed second in the NCAA Division II National tournament and also qualified for the Division I championships on two occasions.
Mike’s high school teaching and coaching career began at Providence Catholic in 1983 as an assistant wrestling coach to Tim Ruettiger, during a five year stretch that included a Class AA dual team title in 1988. He became Providence’s head coach the following season and directed an extraordinary four-season run that included a 97-3-1 dual record, a dual team title in 1989, a runner-up finish in 1990, nine individual state finalists, and six individual state champions among 35 state qualifiers. He also coached football on the sophomore level stringing together over 40 wins in five seasons.
Mike’s success was just getting started though, as he moved to Sandburg High School in 1992, where he built a program that won three consecutive dual team state titles in class AA from 2005-2007. He stepped down as head coach after 2008 to have more time to watch his sons’ wrestle in college, but has remained on as a Sandburg assistant.
He is a member of the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Hall of Fame and has had the honor of being selected as the Coach of the Year in 1989 and 2005, the Man of the Year in 2007, Assistant Coach of the Year in 2012 and a Grand Marshall in 2013. In 2007 he was honored as the National High School Wrestling Coach of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association. In 2017, he was awarded a Lifetime Service Award and also inducted into the National Wrestling Federation Hall of Fame.
He owns a career record of 451-47-1 with over 100 state qualifiers, 57 state place winners, 27 state finalists and 18 individual state champions. He has been a part of 7 state championship teams and has the lone distinction to be the only coach in the state of Illinois to win a wrestling team state championship in both a public and private high school.
Mike has also been very involved in Illinois/USA Wrestling over the years. He has been a Junior National Coach since the mid 80’s coaching numerous All-Americans. He has also been on the coaching staff for 7 USA Junior National Dual Team Titles.
Mike has been coaching high school wrestling in Illinois for the last 39 years with numerous accolades, but his most rewarding accomplishment as a coach was passing the love of the sport of wrestling to his sons’ Clinton and Conrad whom he had the honor of coaching as part of three Illinois Dual Team State Championships and three USA Junior National Dual Team Championships. He also coached Conrad to three individual state championships. Both of his sons wrestled for the University of Illinois where Conrad went on to become a two-time Division I All-American. Clinton and Conrad have both followed in their father’s footsteps, sharing his love of the sport. Clinton has coached wrestling at Sandburg for the last 11 years and has been the Head Coach for the last 4 years. Conrad recently moved back to Illinois and is currently an Assistant Wrestling Coach at Hinsdale Central High School.