Knightly News

“Can you tell us a story?” Coach Phil Bode says students have always enjoyed the stories he tells, and he is often asked to share them while in the classroom. Now an Episcopal substitute teacher, this former wrestling coach and wrestling advocate is sharing his stories with the world in hopes of making connections. “The best part about sharing experiences with other people is that they don’t have to go through the pain that you did,” he says.

Coach Bode grew up on a farm in Iowa. He and his brothers and sisters milked cows, fed chickens and worked hard. That work ethic led to success on the wrestling mat and a lifetime of lessons. “You earn what happens to you,” says Coach Bode. “Once you step out on the mat, it’s always on you.”

From Farm to Bayou

Coach Bode found his place and his community on the wrestling mat. As a teen, he was on the Algona High School wrestling team that made a name for itself as the 1969 Iowa State High School Wrestling Champions. Coach Bode was the team captain and graduated as Outstanding Wrestler. The champions got the attention of universities across the country, and recruitment letters flooded in. As a farm boy from Iowa, Coach Bode’s goal was to go someplace and do something he’d never done before. When the wrestling coach from LSU arrived in Iowa for a recruitment visit, he offered the opportunity to set records that would never be broken because Coach Bode would be the first to set them.

With the spirit of an explorer, Coach Bode appreciated the opportunity to make his mark, and he accepted a scholarship to LSU. He went on to be a two-time Southeastern Conference Champion and two-time Runner-Up. After graduating with a degree in English and Health, Physical, and Recreation Education, he taught for seven years. Eventually, he got a job with an electrical supply company and remained there for more than 30 years.

Baton Rouge became home for Coach Bode, and he raised his family here. At a New Year’s Eve party in 1973, he met a woman named Ann, and the two were married eight months later. They now have three children and six grandchildren. Two of their daughters, Andrea and Amanda, also went into education.

Leaving a Legacy through Sport

Even as he worked full-time and raised his family, Coach Bode's love for wrestling never wavered, and he still shares his passion for the sport with anyone interested. Coach Bode founded wrestling clubs in the region and started programs at Episcopal, Redemptorist, Brusly, St. Amant, Zachary, Live Oak, East Ascension and Dutchtown. He says 1,000 kids have wrestled because of these programs, and he still receives notes and letters from former athletes today. “I coached people who are now coaching,” he says. He’s also coached people who have gone on to become entrepreneurs, actors and educators.

As he looks back on his incredible career, Coach Bode remembers a high school teacher who once told him a legacy is like a bucket of water. When you stick your hand in the bucket and pull it out, that’s how long people remember you. For years, Coach Bode didn’t quite grasp the meaning of that until he understood that the tale is not about the hole in the water, but the ripples made by the hand. Coach Bode has certainly made ripples. In 2000, he was honored as the Louisiana USA Wrestling Man of the Year, and he has also been inducted into his high school hall of fame and the Brusly High School Hall of Fame.

Stories to Prepare the Next Generation

Coach Bode has been a familiar face on Episcopal’s campus since 2011, when he became the school’s full-time substitute teacher, a role that allowed him to share stories with students of all ages. Even though he’s no longer full-time, he says students still ask for a story while he’s here, and he uses it as motivation to get them to complete assignments. The stories are typically about simpler times from his childhood in the 50s and 60s, and each tale has a moral. He reminds students that “not every lesson is in a book.” He also points out that life is full of lessons if we simply pay attention to what’s around us.

Now, Coach Bode is sharing his stories with the next generation through the book, “My Stories I Like to Tell.” It’s another meaningful opportunity to leave a positive ripple in the world. Middle and Upper School students will have the opportunity to learn more from him at a special book signing event in Aldrich Library. Check out the details below.

“My Stories I Like to Tell” Book Signing with Coach Bode
Wednesday, September 23rd
1:25 pm – During office hours and flex
Preorder books at episcopalschoolstore.com/products/phil-bode-book. Books will also be sold during the event.

Has Coach Bode positively impacted your life? Share a message of appreciation in the comments section below.

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