Russ Cozart, the head wrestling coach at Brandon High, wrestled with challenges on and off the mat. The well-traveled coach won seven world titles in the Veteran’s World tournaments, but his biggest battle was dealing with his son’s childhood asthma. He started coaching his son Rocky in the sport of wrestling at the young age of 3.
“We have always had a close relationship,” Russ Cozart said. “It’s a little different trying to be a father and then be a coach. We have always had a building relationship where I wanted to be a great coach to him and a great father to him.”
“Rocky, when he was 2 years old, developed severe asthma, the highest level asthma you can have. Through all that, he became one of the most successful wrestlers at Brandon High School, and one of the most successful in the state of Florida.”
Championship wrestlers Russ and Rocky now work together with eager young people attending their Eagles wrestling school, 124 Edwards Ave., Brandon. Young people ages 3 to 18 climb to the second floor to get to the wrestling room to participate in the Brandon Eagles wrestling program.
During a recent open mat training session, about 20 students laced up their wrestling shoes as parents watched them warm up and get in their stances to work on hand fighting, wrestling moves, and takedowns.
Coach, who wrestled with the 1976 and 1980 United States Olympic Wrestling Team, used those experiences as the foundation for the Eagles success.
Named NFHS National Wrestling Coach of the Year in 2014, Cozart said he wrestled in a number of countries, including France, Switzerland, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, and Germany. He wrestled in 10 world championships, winning seven world titles in the division for men 35 years and older.
Rocky Cozart said he admires his father’s wrestling success as well as his energy and enthusiasm.
“He wakes up every morning at 5 o’clock and gets up and runs,” Rocky Cozart said. “He does high school practices from 2 to 5 p.m. and comes over to the Eagles wresting room at 6:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays.”
Rocky said on Tuesdays and Thursdays they have open mats practice. On Mondays and Wednesdays, they focus on beginner classes.
For more information on the Eagles wrestling program, visit brandoneagleswrestling.com.
Mike Hamson 