THE WILDCATS welcome Hall of Fame Coach Bob Callison to lead the Tullahoma High School boys wrestling team. After 30 years of marriage, Callison, his wife, Tammy, and their 11-year-old son, Kaiden, moved from Arizona over the summer. They left their adult sons, Benjamin and Brennan, and their daughter, Kalie, behind in the Grand Canyon State. “Tullahoma has a rich wrestling history,” said Bob. “So I want to add to that. I know there [will] be a huge learning curve this year, and there are pros and cons to that. It will take time, but the challenge also excites me.”
Bob’s passion for wrestling began early in life and still motivates him to work harder, build lasting relationships, and accept life’s challenges. “Wrestling was a big part of my life growing up. I actually grew up in foster care, so a lot of my sense of family came from wrestling. My teammates and my coaches had a great impact on my life. That’s why I became a coach and a teacher. That motivates me to have the same impact on the athletes and students I come into contact with. Wrestling taught me to strive to be excellent in all areas. I’m not perfect by any means, but I try to be my best, [which] has led to success. I’ve been blessed because of it. I’ve learned to paint a picture of what I want life, wrestling, and teaching to look like. And then, I just keep working to paint that picture.”
Before his coaching career began, Bob wrestled for the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, where in 1990, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education with a minor in health. Later, in 1995, he received his Master of Arts degree in exercise science from Northern Arizona University. Bob also received a driver’s education certificate from the state of Arizona, and besides teaching physical education, and coaching wrestling, he taught driver’s education for 12 years.
Bob spent 11 years at Mountain View High School in Mesa, Arizona, leading his team to two state titles and two runner-up finishes. In 2014 and 2015, he was named Arizona Head Coach of the Year and National Wrestling Coaches Association of Arizona Coach of the Year. He served as the USA Wrestling Junior director and received the USA Wrestling Junior Person of the Year award in 2011. Other titles include president of the Arizona Wrestling Coaches Association, co-director of the Arizona Wrestling Coaches Association Clinic, and serving on the Arizona Interscholastic Association Rules and Games Committee. At the end of the last academic year, Bob retired from Casteel High School in Queen Creek, Arizona, after four years.
With 31 years of teaching and coaching experience and four state titles under his belt, Bob was inducted into the Arizona High School Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame in 2018. The East Valley Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) honored his 30 years of dedication to their organization by choosing him to receive the 2022 Legacy Award. Most recently, the Arizona Chapter of the National Hall of Fame inducted him for his lifetime of service to the sport of wrestling. “While I was working with the FCA for the last 30 years and attending their summer camps, I was able to build meaningful relationships with my students. I never dreamed I would be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but the impact I’ve been able to have on a lot of different wrestlers and students outweighs any accolades I’ve won.”
The Callison family is optimistic about settling into their new community and hopes to make a lasting impact on everyone they meet. “The way to motivate people is to really care about them doing their best and to have those conversations. I reward my players and students when they are doing their best, and when they’re not, we will discuss what it takes to achieve their best. But this all starts with building relationships.”
Under the leadership of Bob Callison, wrestlers are sure to find a profoundly devoted coach, an encouraging teacher, and, most importantly, a lifelong friend. “I’ve won some state championships. I’ve had some undefeated years while in Arizona, and those are wonderful accomplishments, but I value the relationships I’ve built with my players and students the most. My job is to bring everybody together to have a winning program,” said Bob. “Tullahoma has been winning, but under my leadership, I want us to bring home the state title.” GN
