Bound Brook Wrestling: Tribute to Coach Schib
Monday, February 23WHO IS MIKE SCHIBANOFF?
He is the “Dean of New Jersey Wrestling Officials,” but he is a massive man. He was the first “Chief Referee” in New Jersey, but he was very genial. Along the way, He also established himself as one of New Jersey’s greatest wrestling coaches.
Mr. Schibanoff was born and raised in Freehold, New Jersey, where Today, there still exists a Schibanoff Road. He graduated from Freehold High School where he competed in the New Jersey State Tournament at Heavyweight in 1937. He furthered his education by earning a B.A. degree at Moravian College and his M.A. from Columbia University. Mike participated in football, track and of course, wrestling.
Mr. Schibanoff is the man responsible for organizing officials and bringing about a unified approach to officiating throughout the state of New Jersey. He was elected as the first President of the New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association.
One of Mike’s strongest attributes as a referee was his consummate professionalism. When a crowd disagreed with one of Mike’s calls, he wouldn’t frown, but rather just give the crowd a polite smile. He knew his role was oversee the action and not be the center of attention.
Time and time again in trying to serve the sport, He handled meets in the early days for nothing, just trying to further wrestling in its infancy in New Jersey. He handled countless numbers of rule interpretation meetings and served selflessly in getting officials for new schools. He earned respect of others in wrestling and was an integral part of running the N.J.S.I.A.A. State Wrestling Championships.
This “Like for Mike” resulted in his designation as the N.J.S.I.A.A. Rules Interpreter from 1962 to 1979. Mike’s influence, however, went beyond New Jersey, as he was a member of the National Rules Advisory Committee and National Rules Committee for wrestling. He was member of the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association for thirty-one years and long standing member of the New Jersey Football Officials Association.
One of Mike’s contributions to the National Rules Federation was the assembly of the National Federation of Wrestling Officials Rules Manual. If one looks closely at the 1979-80 Manual they will find technical pictures of wrestlers and referees in the Bound Brook High School Gymnasium, including NCAA All-American Peter Schuyler. Mike was also on the technical staff of the wrestling film “Ready Wrestle.”
Although there is no other man who inspired more confidence among other officials then Mike Schibanoff, he was also an outstanding wrestling coach. Mike established the Bound Brook High School wrestling program into a state power in the 50’s and 60’s, when He and Dr. James Connerton convinced the Bound Brook Board of Education to restart the wrestling program after World War II. Mike’s team within five years had recorded two undefeated seasons and were state runner-ups in 1951.
Although He had extensive duties as referee, He continued to coach Bound Brook either as the head coach or assistant for 13 years. During this time Bound Brook produced an impressive dual meet record of 95 wins and 23 losses 2 ties, had 40 District Champions, 34 State Place winners and 10 State Champions. Other accomplishments included the legendary 1957 team that was undefeated, five Somerset County Championships, four District titles and four undefeated teams.
Some of the individuals Mike helped coach during this period included 1953 State Heavyweight Champion Mike Sandusky who was an All-American at the University of Maryland in three sports and later played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL. He also helped Coach two time State Champion Joe Zelasney, who in 1960 defeated two returning State Champions on his way to being named the Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament. Mike was also instrumental in the development of State Runner-Up Bob Mizerek who has since been inducted into the Rutgers-Newark and Montclair State College Athletic Hall of Fames.
Mr. Schibanoff also coached the football team at Bound Brook for eight years and the track team for 25 years. During this period, He had his most fulfilling moment as a coach when his son Jim won an individual Track State Title. Mike finished his career at Bound Brook High School as it’s Athletic Director in June of 1980.
Mike retired to Marina Del Mar, California with his wife Mary, who was a second grade teacher in the Bound Brook School District for twenty-seven years. Today, the Schibanoff’s beam when they speak about their two children. Their daughter Susan holds a Ph.D in English and is an Associate Professor of Medieval English at the University of New Hampshire. Their son James is a Doctor of Respiratory Diseases at the Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, California. Mike has enjoyed retirement by fishing, reading, listening to classical music and performing auto and home repairs. He is still an avid fan of New Jersey Wrestling and is known to wake up early in the California Morning to follow the scores in New Jersey via the internet. He still returns to New Jersey every year for the State Wrestling Championships as a judge and weigh master.
Mr. Schibanoff has been honored for his contribution in both his community and on the state level. In May of 2000 the Bound Brook School District dedicated the wrestling room in his honor. On the state level Mike was awarded the Harry E. Lake Award for contributions to New Jersey Wrestling and Mirshack Award for excellence in officiating.
There is no other man who inspired more confidence among New Jersey wrestling officials than Mike Schibanoff. He also had monumental impact on the youth of Bound Brook.
His inspiration and impact is a result of him being a very warm hearted and encouraging person.
In the History of New Jersey Wrestling Book, Mike Schibanoff will be remembered as one of the outstanding contributors to wrestling in New Jersey. His efforts will never be forgotten as He has had an tremendous impact on the growth and development of our great sport.
A FINAL TRIBUTE TO COACH:
Coach Mike Schibanoff, the Father of Bound Brook Wrestling and namesake of our wrestling room passed away Sunday, February 22, 2009 in California at the age of 91. Mr. Schibanoff began as a gym teacher at Bound Brook High and in 1948 he and Dr. James Connerton approached the Board of Education to restart the wrestling program that had just begun before World War 2. The school board approved the program and Bound Brook wrestled their first full schedule in 1949 under Coach Schib and Dr. Connerton. Although Mr. Schib was only a co-head coach for a few years, he worked with the program as an assistant or head coach until 1962. In his time as head coach his teams had a record of 49-14-2 and won multiple District and County Championships. He was instrumental in hiring some great Bound Brook coaches such as Norm Cromack and Bob Zarbatany. During all of this time Mr. Schib was New Jersey's top referee and was the head of the Section I National Federation Rules Committee. In fact, if you were to look in a Wrestling Rule Book from the late 1970's you will see pictures of different situations taken in the Bound Brook gymnasium and featuring future All-American Pete Schyuler. Wrestling was not the only sport he coached at BBHS, as he was also the track and football coach. His own children also brought great distinction to Bound Brook as his son was a State Champion in the hurdles for BBHS and is a doctor in San Diego, California. His beloved daughter Susan is a english professor Emeriti at the University of New Hampshire. Not to be forgotten, his wife Mary was a second grade teacher in the Bound Brook school system. She was a great teacher and taught Bound Brook wrestlers like Pete Schyuler and your's truly. I love Mrs. Schib because she let me do my school work in the spacious coat closet and always understood what it was like to be the youngest child from a large tribe. You always felt the love and compassion of a mother when taught by Mrs. Schib. Later in his career Mr. Schib went from gym teacher to athletic director at Bound Brook High School. but he always helped recruit wrestlers such as former Bound Brook greats future Hall of Famer like Bob Mizerek. He retired from the school district in 1980 and moved to Del Mar, California. In Californial he loved to fish and be with his family. But in the Winter he'd wake up every morning to go online to see how his beloved Bound Brook wrestling team was doing. If he couldn't find a score, he'd call New Jersey to see how the kids did and often would request video of the new Bound Brook stars. I fondly recall when he called just to know what the move Andrew Flanagan was hitting from the collar tie which made kids go flying backwards. He always gave great advice and let you know why others succeeded and things you might want to change. I asked him what was Henry Boresch's secret to coaching and he told me it was quantity. He said Coach Boresch always made sure his kids wrestled more than any other kids in the State and that's what made a basketball player turned wrestling coach successful. Mr. Schib atttended the State Tournament until about the year 2000 when flying became a little difficult for him. But he was always honored by being a judge for the outstanding wrestler award and handed out some of the awards before the start of the final round. He is survived by his wife Mary and children Dr. James Schibanoff and Susan Schibanoff, Ph.D. Bound Brook Wrestling Thanks Coach Schibanoff for the wonderful tradition and service he gave to the community of Bound Brook and he will always be loved and remebered in our 1.7 mile town we call home! Rest in Peace Coach.