Longtime Coast Guard Coach Steve Eldridge Passes Away

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy announced the passing of longtime wrestling coach Steve Eldridge. Eldridge coached wrestling for 47 seasons and cross country for 43. He is a Division III wrestling hall of fame inductee and four time New England Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the Coast Guard Academy Hall of Fame in 1989. Eldridge retired from coaching in 2014 with over 300 career dual meet wins.


CGA Mourns Loss of Coach Eldridge

Long-time Coast Guard Academy wrestling and men’s cross country head coach, and CGA Athletics Hall of Famer Steve Eldridge passed away last week.

Eldridge spent 47 seasons as the head coach of the Bears. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III Hall of Fame in 1995 and earned the Lifetime Service to Wrestling recipient by the Hall of Fame. He is the first coach at the Coast Guard Academy to earn national Hall of Fame honors as a coach.

Under his guidance, the Bears have enjoyed great success with five New England Championships while placing second four times. Eldridge earned Coach of the Year honors four times.

Coach Eldridge has twice served as the President of the National Wrestling Coaches Association and has twice hosted the Division III National Championships at the Academy.

Eldridge has coached nine All-America selections including two-time National runner-up Chris Fertig and Nate Giorgio.

Eldridge also served as the men’s cross country coach for 43 seasons, retiring after the 2011 season. He coached four All-Americans in cross country and led the Bears to the NCAA Division III Championships in both 1989 and 2001.

Eldridge is a 1989 inductee of the Coast Guard Academy Hall of Fame.