Coaches Profiles

Head Coach  Ron Gaffner

Coach Ron Gaffner returns as the head wrestling coach for the 2008-2009 wrestling season.

He is a graduate of Central Michigan University with a B S degree in Education and an MA in Athletic Administration.  He brings with him 36 years of coaching experience.

Mr. Gaffner was head coach of the Jayhawk wresting program for 23 years.  During that time the Jayhawks had over 300 wins and placed in the top ten eleven times.  They won 6 MCCAA championships, 13 NJCAA Region XII championships, and had 7 individual nation champions and 58 All-Americans. Mr. Gaffner was selected MCCAA Coach of Year thirteen times, and NJCAA Coach of the Year once.

During his career, Coach Gaffner was an active participant in the National Junior College coaches Association where he held the office of secretary/treasurer, vice president, and then president four years.  He was NJCAA Man of the Year in 1981, is a member of the NJCAA Hall of Fame, Michigan Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame, and Greater Muskegon Area Hall of Fame.

Coach Gaffner is looking forward to working with the 2008-2009 Muskegon Jayhawk wrestling program.  His duties will be recruiting, scheduling, counseling and coaching student athletes.  Mr. Gaffner lives in Whitehall with his wife Nadine.

Assistant Coach Omar Ortiz

Coach Ortiz, a recent graduate of William Penn University in Iowa is a great asset to the coaching staff, and is currently an adjunct strength training instructor.  Omar was a two time All-American for the Jayhawks before going to Iowa to finish his academic/athletic career.  Coach "O" is from Fremont, Michigan, where he was 2nd in the MHSAA State Championships.