Harry Broadbent

Harry Broadbent had a short, but very successful stint as the head wrestling coach, assistant track & field and cross country coach, and assistant football coach at Washington and Lee.

Broadbent’s first experience with W&L occurred in 1936 when he led the University of Oklahoma to the NCAA Wrestling Championship which was held at Washington and Lee. He would also go on to claim the 174-pound NCAA individual title.

A mere 10 years later, Broadbent found himself back at W&L from 1946-49 where he led the Generals to a 29-5 overall record, two Southern Conference Championships, and nine Southern Conference individual crowns. After posting a 5-2 overall record and a fourth place finish in the Southern Conference during the 1946-47 season, Broadbent led W&L to an 11-1 overall mark and a first place finish in the Southern Conference Tournament during his second season.

Broadbent then coached the Generals to a 13-2 overall record during the 1948-49 campaign and again guided W&L to a victory at the Southern Conference Championships, besting the likes of now ACC members Maryland, North Carolina, Duke, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.

Broadbent departed W&L following the 1948-49 season to coach at San Diego State University where he guided the Aztecs to a 97-72-7 record from 1950-70.

Broadbent, who also coached at the University of Texas and the University of Pennsylvania, received the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his service to the sport.