Surprising and saddening news came Wednesday, as former Wyoming wrestler and wrestling coach Steven Suder passed away.

Suder was a Cowboy wrestler from 1975-79 and earned All-America honors as a senior in 1979. He came back to the UW and led the wrestling program as the head coach from 1989-2008. Just last year, on Aug. 31, 2018, Suder was inducted into the University of Wyoming Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.

In a release from the university, Wyoming Athletics Director Tom Burman had a similar reaction to many when it came to this unfortunate news.

“We were shocked and saddened to hear of Coach Suder’s passing. We respect and appreciate the commitment and leadership Coach Suder brought to his time as both a Cowboy student-athlete and coach. He not only accomplished great things as a coach and athlete, but he was a great role model for young people. He was highly respected as a member of the Laramie community for decades and will be missed by so many. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Suder family.”

KOWB has learned that a memorial service for Steven Suder will be held Tuesday, May 28 at 2 p.m. in the UniWyo Sports Complex on campus. That will be followed by a reception at Snowy Range E-Free Church, located at 2552 North 15th Street.

Suder finished with 127 career dual wins as head coach of the Cowboys. That’s second only behind the legendary Everett Lantz in school history. He led UW to a pair of Western Athletic Conference team titles. Suder won conference Coach of the Year honors four times and was the NCAA West Region Coach of the Year twice.

Current Wyoming wrestling head coach Mark Branch passed along his respects, as well.

“The Wyoming wrestling family is in pain and heartbroken. Coach Suder was a legend at UW as both a wrestler and a coach, but his impact was so much greater than the sport of wrestling. I was blessed to know him as a friend. He was a respected leader in this community, on this campus and in my church, and he will be greatly missed. My prayers are with his wife, his children, and his many dear friends.”

Steven Suder was 64.

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