Michael P. Papouras

Michael P. Papouras

  • Class Year:
    1958
  • Induction Year:
    1986
  • Sport(s):
    Football and Wrestling

Michael P. Papouras '58 graduated from BW in 1958 and was inducted into the Alumni Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1986.

Papouras participated in both football and wrestling while at Baldwin-Wallace. He played at the offensive center position on the varsity football squad in 1956 and 1957. Mike's forte, however, was on the wrestling mat where he was a four-year letter winner for the Yellow Jackets.

After receiving his bachelor's degree from B-W, Mike went on to earn his master's degree from Case Western Reserve University. He then entered his career in the education field by becoming a teacher in the Euclid Public Schools. After three years, he joined the Richmond Heights Schools where he has remained for the past twenty-four as a teacher, counselor and outstanding coach.

Papouras, athletic director at Richmond Heights High School, has led the wrestlers of Richmond Heights to an impressive level in his twenty-three years as head wrestling coach. During his tenure they garnered thirteen Eastern Suburban Championships, eight Sectional Championships and eight District Championships. At the state level, Papouras has enjoyed tremendous success turning in four State Championships, four second places and two third places. Eighteen of his wrestlers have earned twenty-seven individual State Championships. 

Personally, Papouras has been named Greater Cleveland Coach of the Year three times and Ohio Coach of the Year three times. In March of 1983, Mike was named the Ohio High School Athletic Association Wrestling Coach of the Year, and in the same year he was elected to the Ohio State Wrestling Hall of Fame. He was also named National Region IV Coach of the Year in 1985.

Mike is a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity and the Richmond Heights branch of the Kiwanis Club. He belongs to the Nestorian Philanthropic Association. He is also extremely active in local, state, and national coaches' associations. Michael's positions have included Vice-President and President of the Greater Cleveland Coaches Association and the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association and Vice-President of the National Wrestling Coaches Association.

Papouras, an honorary Citizen of Richmond Heights, resides in Euclid. He and his wife, Sia, have a daughter and a son.

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NOTE:  Mike passed away on March 20, 2017.