Adam Wight – Co-Head Coach at Vacaville HS

Pablo Di Maria
High School Correspondent
Amateur Wrestling News & The Open Mat

Coach Wight how fortunate do you feel to be Co Head Coach with Clint Birch?

I think anybody who has the opportunity to work with people they admire and respect has to be considered to be in a fortunate situation – for me, Clint is also one of my best friends, so I feel completely blessed to be in this situation.  I know a lot of people look at the co-coach model and think it’s strange, but we actually complement each other perfectly.  I owe Clint a lot – he’s a major reason I am the coach I am right now, and I think there are few coaches out there with his passion for the sport.

How long have you been coaching?

Since 2001.

What are the goals for you program in the future?

Our hope is to continue to improve and maintain a high level of consistency in the teams we put out.  If we continue to feel we are good enough to wrestle at The Clash National Duals every year, I think this is an indication that we are accomplishing this.  It’s a great measure for us of team strength and balance – and makes every kid in our program better.  Certainly we want to continue to win our section’s Masters tournament and do well at the state level.

If you have one piece of advice for a High School wrestler considering wrestling in college, what would you recommend to them?

Embrace the grind.  It seems to me that people who are successful at the next level truly have a passion for the sport – so if you are just a part time guy, don’t expect to make it at the next level.  You need to be fully committed to the sport and your development.

What’s the best part of coaching at Vacaville High?

We work under the constant belief that we can be better.  It’s a challenging and yet rewarding mindset – and I think many people are satisfied with their current place in life.  One thing that sometimes bugs me about working in education is that I see many teachers happy with the status quo – they resist change.  In our program we know that often staying the same means you are not improving.

How’s your relationship with your wrestlers?

Our staff is very close to our kids.  I really appreciate when they come back after graduation and spend time with our current wrestlers.

How would you describe a typical week of practice during the season?

Rigorous.  We cross train 4 times per week (lifting and running), with morning individualized workouts, lunch meetings for film review, and two and a half hour practices on the mat.  Our philosophy is that we can outwork 90% of our opponents.

Who do you think is the best wrestler to have ever come out of Vacaville High?

Depends on the criteria you use to define “best.”  In his single high school career, probably Steve Hilas (CA State Champ, Fargo Champ) … but if you look at overall career Clayton Jack has to be in the conversation –  three-time state placer, CA State Champ, Division 1 NCAA All-American.  Currently he is working out with WWE’s NXT in Florida. Dave Nelson was 3^rd in the Greco World Cup.  I think we have a couple current juniors who will be part of the conversation in a few years.

What advice would you give to those coaches who are barely starting a wrestling program?

Place an emphasis on team success just as much, or more, than individual success.  Our program has been built with a team first philosophy – we recognize that in an individual sport this goes against the grain, but we try very hard to teach our kids there are things in this life bigger than themselves.

What is the secret to have such a successful program as Vacaville?

I think we had a blue print provided for us by Larry and Dave Nelson that we just couldn’t go wrong with.  Since then we’ve surrounded ourselves with great people.  Our assistant coaches are good men, who place the good of the program before themselves.  8 years ago, our predecessor Richard Penaluna stepped down from the high school to run our youth club – how many head varsity coaches would do that?  Our assistant coaches, Armando Orozco, Kody Klaus, Chris Marino, John Azurdia … they all put the needs of the kids before their own.

Favorite book to read?

The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle.  A must read for any coach, especially coaches of little kids.

Three things people don’t know about you?

Clint says that I am actually a nice guy.  I was cut from my 6^th grade wrestling team, and  I played rugby in the National Finals.

Favorite food to eat in a hot summer day?

If you see me, you know I don’t discriminate against any food … but on a hot summer day, it’s hard to beat a slurpee.

Favorite TV show?

I coach wrestling – who has time for TV?

Do you have anything else you’d like folks to know about yourself or the Vacaville program?

We love our tradition and representing our town … there is no other place in the world we’d rather be, than coaching at Vacaville High School.