After 35 years of involvement in East Noble’s wrestling program, both as a competitor and as a coach, Keith Hoffar was inducted into the Indiana High School Wrestling Hall of Fame on February 22. Hoffar currently coaches East Noble’s team that boasted a state champion in Garrett Pepple and multiple state qualifiers this past season with a multitude of other wrestlers reaching the semi-state and state levels throughout his tenure.

“We do have a very successful wrestling program,” said Hoffar, “but it is mostly because the guys put the work in every day and they are always looking to improve. It also helps that some of them have been wrestling their whole lives, so they are already extremely good by the time they get to high school, which makes my job easy.”

What makes Hoffar’s Hall of Fame induction more special is his character. Matt Rickey, an English teacher at East Noble and Hoffar’s friend of over 35 years, knows his character as well as anyone.

“I have learned that [Hoffar] absolutely shuns the limelight,” Rickey explained. “He’s a guy that goes about his business and does a great job in the classroom, on the field and on the mat without ever looking for accolades.”

Anyone who knows Hoffar will agree that he is one of the most humble men that anyone could ever meet, which makes his induction into the Hall of Fame more meaningful since it just shows that he coaches purely because it is his passion rather than coaching so he can attain glory or attract attention to himself.

“I think the award is more for longevity than anything. I wouldn’t say that I’m an excellent coach, I just have wrestlers that love the sport and work really hard at it,” Hoffar said.

After the success that East Noble’s wrestling program has had perennially, there is no doubt as to why Hoffar was graced with this honor. In order to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, someone must nominate the potential candidate and then a committee will be the deciding factor in whether or not the candidate is chosen to be inducted. The person who nominated Hoffar is anonymous.

“The greatest gift that Hoffar ever receives comes from students who return, years after graduation to let him know of their successes. That’s all he’s ever needed or wanted,” said Rickey.