Coach Max Burch (1937-2023)

In 1967 Max Burch became the first head wrestling coach at Shasta High School which led to a wrestling legacy in Shasta County. He was a celebrated coach and wrestling organizer for over 50 years. Max not only coached champions, but he also supported high school students through difficult times and was an encouraging mentor and life teacher.

In 1971, early in his career, Max founded the Redding Amateur Wrestling Club which he credited as a major reason for Shasta High’s sustained success. RAWC has seen a half century of families working together and supporting each other’s children in their personal growth and achievements. RAWC continues to provide the wonderful opportunity of wrestling for boys and girls from kindergarten through high school, and adults as well.

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Max coached numerous individuals and teams to League, Masters, and Conference championships. He had numerous All-State wrestlers at the high school and college levels, including multiple state champions and place winners. He led both high school and community college teams to top five finishes in the California State Championships. He coached the Shasta College Knights to a conference championship and was named conference coach of the year.

Max was inducted into the California Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2009, and later the Shasta County Sports Hall of Fame. He retired from college coaching in 2015 at the age of 78