Joe Burvan was a wrestling and football coach, as well as a teacher at RCHS. Although he never attended school at Rensselaer in his youth, he still had a profound impact on the school corporation and the community.
We decided to ask Coach Chris Meeks more about him, since they were very close.
The first question we asked him was: What was it like to be around Joe Burvan? Coach Meeks replied that since meeting him through wrestling when he was younger, Joe Burvan “stood out for his dedication, strong work ethic, and passion for wrestling.” He also shared that Burvan would take the wrestling team to matches across the state to improve.
Next, we asked Coach Meeks if Burvan was a good coach and what he learned from him. Meeks described Burvan as a “great coach, passionate about teaching, coaching, and family.” He credited Burvan with teaching him mental toughness, discipline, and the value of hard work.
We then asked Meeks what lessons he learned from Burvan that he still applies today. He mentioned mental toughness, discipline, and Burvan’s profound impact on his life. Notably, he told us that “Burvan served as the best man at my wedding.” Meeks also shared, “I tried to instill the same principles he taught me into my children,” which shows how much of an impact Coach Burvan made on his life.
We inquired about Burvan’s accomplishments as a coach. Meeks emphasized that Burvan prioritized developing outstanding young men over awards or wins. According to Meeks, Burvan succeeded, as his athletes learned to handle adversity and life’s challenges.
Finally, we asked Coach Meeks about the impact of Joe Burvan’s passing on the school and community. He described it as “a difficult time, given Burvan’s widespread influence as a coach, teacher, and respected community member.” His loss is still deeply felt by our school and community.
Rensselaer has an award named after Burvan, the Joe Burvan 10-0 Award, which is one of the most prestigious awards the school gives out every year. The wrestling room and gymnasium have also been named in his honor.
