In his little office next to Brandon High’s gym, surrounded by team photos and a faded framed “State Champions” t-shirt from 1977, I reminisced with wrestling coach Russ Cozart.
We talked about Foxcatcher, my career highs and lows, and how this school is the only legitimate feeder program in Florida.
On the mat that day, Coach Cozart needed no microphone, no bullhorn, nothing more than his presence to announce the only thing that mattered. This is for the kids.
To the attentive crowd, Cozart announced: “Let’s wrestle.”
Ah yes, the streak …
“If you would have told me in 1980 that I wouldn’t lose for 28 years I would have said, ‘C’mon now, that’s a bit crazy,'” Cozart said. “But it happened.”
What also happened? Cozart got married (in 1985 to wife Jeanna), bought a house in Brandon in 1985, had two children, Rocky (in 1986) and Joe (in 1990), won more state titles (27 in all, including a current skein of 16), watched his sons win several individual state titles, went undefeated as a team against Hillsborough County opponents (since 1972) and posted the longest unbeaten streak in the history of high schools at 459 dual-match victories.
In all that time through all that amazing history, it should be noted that Cozart did something that might be the most amazing of all: He missed only two practices.
Two.
But it shouldn’t be long before another Cozart, son Joe, starts taking over. After 37 years, he’s finally handing over some duties. That’s right, the legendary coach is beginning to move aside, something he did during summer Brandon youth workouts.
How did that feel?
“It felt great,” Cozart said with his patented smile and a twinkle in his eye. “It was great because I saw how well everything was going. I have confidence in all of it.”
For 28-year-old Joe Cozart, who won four state titles at Brandon, it is an absolute, “dream situation.”
“I’ve known I wanted to be around the Brandon team and be coaching for many, many years,” said Joe, who leads the AVID program and physical education program at his alma mater. “This is a perfect fit for me. I know how everything works and how it needs to work.
All Tournaments Folk, Freestyle, Greco (enter Folkstyle for $20 and get to enter Freestyle and Greco for FREE!) 6/2, 6/16 (Individual and Team Competition), 6/30, 7/14, 7/28. Weigh-ins: kids 8-9am wrestling at 10am, Weighins cadets/juniors 8-10am wrestling 11am, Medals top 3 placers, round robin tournaments, spectators free.
“I want to make my dad proud, just like I do every day. I want to carry on the tradition.”
Russ Cozart grinned and said, “Sounds Perfect.”
For more information on the summer camps and this amazing tradition, visit brandoneagleswrestling.com.
Mike Hamson 
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