Former Flowing Wells wrestling coach Pat Weber, 71, a 2013 inductee in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, was found dead on Thursday at a marina in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico, where he lived in retirement.
He was reported missing since Sunday after last reportedly seen last Saturday in the San Carlos area.
According to a press release from the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Sonora, Mexico, Weber’s death was a result of an artery rupture in his neck from a pre-existing medical condition.
“The bruise on his forehead was the result of a fall from his own height, and no injuries were found indicating the intervention of third parties,” the press release stated. “The body was found in the dock area in San Carlos, specifically submerged beneath a sailboat adjacent to the one he owned, where prepared food and opened alcoholic beverages were found, with no signs of violence.”
San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas is a popular marina and expatriate community known for sportfishing and yacht moorings, with a significant seasonal U.S. resident population.
Former Canyon del Oro football coach Dustin Peace, who wrestled for Weber at Flowing Wells, posted on social media that he will miss Weber and is “forever grateful for what he did for me and thousands of others as a coach and teacher.”
“My junior year after the school’s first wrestling match, I got excited and asked to join the team three weeks late,” Peace stated. “He had no valid reason to let me join besides knowing what the experience can do for young athletes. I will never forget that decsion, as it certainly changed my course and affected the way I have approached that situation in my coaching career.
“I had an amazing experience and so many memories and relationships I won’t forget. Years later, he helped support me to get in the Flowing Wells Hall of Fame. Now, I coach little league with Mike (Weber’s son) and have his grandson in my PE class and flag football team. Shocked to lose him but so grateful to have been coached by this great man!”
Weber, who hails from Huntington, Ind., moved to Tucson to attend Arizona after he earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Ind. He took post baccalaureate courses at Arizona, Cochise College, Arizona State and Pima Community College.
Weber got into the sport in 1969, when his high school basketball coach took him to the wrestling room.
He started his coaching career at the middle school level at Sierra Vista.
Over the next 24 years, Weber coached at Baboquivari, Buena, and Flowing Wells high schools.
Following his coaching career, Weber became athletic director at Flowing Wells in 2004 and retired in 2019.
He was also involved as a coordinator for AZ/USA Wrestling and assisted and directed the AIA state tournament.
He was tournament director for the Flowing Wells Invitational, one of Arizona’s top high school wrestling events over the last six decades. He served as director for more than 30 years. He returned annually after his retirement to assist athletic director Mark Brunenkant run the event.
He was also a USA club team coach, of which he earned a Bronze Coaching Certification.
He earned the Southern Arizona Teacher of the Year and the UofA/Circle K Outstanding Faculty Award during his time at Flowing Wells as a math educator.
PAT WEBER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
— Flowing Wells High School Athletic Director, 2004-19
— Baboquivari High School Teacher, 1976-1979
— Buena High School Teacher 1979-1986
— Flowing Wells High School Teacher, 1986–2004
— Flowing Wells High School Wrestlling Coach 1987-2003
— Pima Community College Mathematics Instructor 1976-1979
— Flowing Wells High School Sports Hall of Fame Chairman 2004-19
— Arizona Interscholastic Association 5A Sonoran Representative 2016
— Arizona Interscholastic Association State Wrestling Co-Director 2010
— Arizona Interscholastic Association Sectional Wrestling DII/III Director 2010-19
INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP
— Assigned to be a cooperating teacher for five student teachers
— Developed the curriculum for the computer science courses for Flowing Wells High School
— Developed the curriculum for the web page design courses for Flowing Wells High School
— Developed and maintained the first web page for Flowing Wells High School
— Developed multiple workshops for coaching strategies to include increasing enrollment in sports related activities
— Coordinated Mutlpile workshops for coaches related to strength and conditioning
COMMUNITY SERVICE
— Provided wrestling instruction for elelmentary, junior high school and high school students 1988-2004
— Coordinated mutiple exchanges with students from foreign countries through the USA wrestling association
— Served on the Board of the Arizona/USA Wresting Association 1998 – 2004
— Coordinated and supervised multiple trips to wrestling tournaments through out the country
HONORS:
— Teacher of the Year, Flowing Wells High School
— Circle K Teacher of the Year Finalist
— University of Arizona Martin Luther King Award for Outstanding Leadership
— National Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee
— Ohio State University Southern Arizona Alumni Teacher of the Year
— Sonoran/Kino Region Coach of the Year
Furneral arrangements are pending.
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