Keeping With Tradition Scott Bliss, Who Replaces Cash Stone As The New Wrestling Coach, Brings His Own Legacy To Mead

A man whose coaching star is in ascent has been chosen to succeed a legend at Mead High School.

Scott Bliss, who has coached Auburn to two state team championships among five top-six finishes, is Mead’s new wrestling coach, replacing retiring Hall of Famer Cash Stone.

“We’re really excited to have someone of Scott’s caliber and are very respectful of Cash’s legacy,” said Mead activities coordinator Dick Cullen. “I was talking to (Stone’s wife) Dorothy yesterday and she said it makes it seem like this job really was a plum. And it’s true. This is a great place to work and a great tradition to come to.”

Bliss offers exceptional credentials. The 1974 high school state champion from Othello, Wash., was a two-time All-American wrestler at the University of Oregon. He had a 126-25-4 record and placed second in the NCAAs in 1980.

He coached for six years at the University of Montana and two years at Wyoming.

“I’d still be there (at Montana), but they cut the sport,” said Bliss. Still, he added, “I always planned on being a high school teacher and coach.”

Since arriving at Auburn five years ago, his Trojans finished first in state in 1994 and ‘96, fourth twice, and sixth last year. During that time the school had seven individual champions and 16 other placers.

The decision to move, said Bliss, came because of a desire to be closer to family and friends and to again experience weather with four seasons. He admitted the new job will be challenging.

Stone’s 38-year tenure at Mead also produced two team state championships, eight individual titles and 405 dual match victories.

He was recently named Man of the Year for the state of Washington by Wrestling U.S.A. Magazine.

On July 9 in San Antonio, Texas, he will be inducted, along with 13 others, into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame.

“To follow and duplicate some of the things Cash has done is virtually impossible,” said Bliss. “It will be really difficult to be as caring and close to kids (as he was).”

Bliss promises to try with a style that helped him succeed at Auburn.

“We want to win,” said Bliss. “Our kids are well conditioned and very, very aggressive. A lot of our success at Auburn has been because of that.”

While succeeding someone with Stone’s credentials and coming to a school which will lose enrollment to a new high school can seem daunting, it’s nothing new for the new coach.

He followed 1993 Washington Wrestling Hall of Fame entry Kip Herren, who coached 14 years at Auburn and is currently the school’s principal.

Two years ago Auburn School District also opened a second high school.

“It’s a real familiar situation for me. They are two very, very similar school districts,” said Bliss. “Auburn hung onto the one-school concept forever, until it got too big, like Mead.”

New activities coordinator Cullen is enthusiastic about the hire.

“He will honor the traditions Cash set up,” he said. “(At the same time) we want Scott to develop his own program as he feels comfortable doing that.”

, DataTimes