The Man, the myth, the legend: The lasting legacy of Coach Klostreich

Don Klostreich passed away in late April, but his legacy in Arizona will live on forever

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - The championships, Hall of Fame inductions and awards tell only part of Don Klostreich's story.

Klostreich, who passed away April 22, 2026, after battling Lewy body disease, is remembered as one of the most influential figures in Arizona wrestling history.

He won nine state championships, was inducted into multiple halls of fame and earned recognition as the Arizona Wrestling Coach of the 20th Century.

Yet for those who knew him best, the accolades are secondary to the impact he had on young athletes.

Klostreich's coaching journey took him across Arizona, including successful stops at Sunnyside High School in Tucson and later in Yuma at Yuma High School, Kofa, San Pasqual and Gila Ridge.

Along the way, he developed a reputation for building champions and building people's character both on the mat and away from it.

According to his wife, Faith Klostreich, the foundation of his coaching philosophy was formed long before he arrived in Arizona.

Growing up on a farm near Jamestown, North Dakota, Klostreich experienced poverty firsthand. The family lived without electricity or running water, and he rode a horse to a one-room schoolhouse. Those hardships helped shape the work ethic and resilience he later instilled in his athletes.

Former Sunnyside state champion Cesar Ruiz said Klostreich became a mentor for countless young wrestlers who needed direction.

"There were a lot of broken families and a lot of kids that needed something in their lives," Ruiz said. "He gave us something to fight for."

That influence stretched far beyond Tucson.

In Yuma, Klostreich became a father figure to many athletes, including former wrestler Terrell Hunsinger Jr., who credits lessons learned in the wrestling room with helping him navigate life long after graduation.

"He taught us not to make excuses and to have really high standards for ourselves," Hunsinger said.

Former Sunnyside assistant coach and Klostreich's successor Richard Sanchez said he learned nearly everything he knows about coaching from his mentor.

"He was real good with taking care of kids and motivating kids," Sanchez said. "Whatever he told me, I took it like it was written in the Bible."

Klostreich's influence can still be seen throughout Arizona wrestling today.

While he never won a state title during his time coaching in Yuma, many of his former wrestlers returned to the sport as coaches themselves, creating a coaching tree that continues to grow.

Gila Ridge's head coach Abel Villamoreno said Klostreich inspired him to return to wrestling as a coach.

"He is the root cause of why I came back and coached," Villamoreno said.

Former Gila Ridge wrestler and current Yuma High head coach Jose Cazares remembers Klostreich's unique sense of humor as much as his coaching.

One of his favorite memories was the way Klostreich would shake your hand.

Villamoreno recalled another famous story, which involved carrying an empty pill bottle filled with rabbit pellets from the desert. Whenever an athlete complained during practice, Klostreich would jokingly offer them "tough pills."

The lighthearted moments helped create lasting bonds with his athletes, many of whom still share stories decades later.

For former professional MMA fighter Chance Farrar, Klostreich's belief in his athletes was what made him special.

The first time they met, Klostreich asked Farrar about his goals. When Farrar said he wanted to become a state champion, Klostreich told him that if he showed up every day, he would achieve it.

Farrar did just that.

"He believed in me," Farrar said. "That feeling is hard to beat."

Perhaps that ability to inspire belief is what defined Klostreich's legacy more than any championship banner ever could.

Faith Klostreich said her husband cared deeply about the athletes he coached, often showing a softer side away from the spotlight.

"He was fiercely passionate about his athletes," she said. "But he was sweet about them."

When she once asked him if he could imagine doing anything besides coaching and teaching, his answer was immediate.

"He said, 'I can't imagine being anything else,'" Faith recalled.

Years after his final practices and months after his passing, Klostreich's influence remains visible across Arizona wrestling, not only in trophies and record books, but in the coaches, athletes and communities he helped shape.

For many, Coach K's greatest accomplishment wasn't creating champions. It was helping young people believe they could become one.